Marcel Delmotte (1901-1984) - Portrait

A charcoal on paper modernist portrait, measuring circa 35,5 x 25,5cm paper size, framed behind transparent acrylic glass in a simple black wooden frame for an outside size of 45 x 32,5 x 1,5cm and weight of 665g. Signed in charcoal and dated 1968.

Marcel Delmotte was a Belgian artist, born in Charleroi in 1901 and died in Mont-sur-Marchienne in 1984. He was a painter and draftsman. Despite the fact that he was largely self-taught, he attended classes as a free student in the studio of L. Van Den Houten at the Université du Travail in Charleroi during the First World War. Initially he was inspired by the Bible and mythology and painted visionary scenes that resembled lyrical surrealism. Later he placed nudes and figures in front of abstracted, organically structured, sometimes unearthly or inhospitable backgrounds. He was fascinated by themes such as the beauty of women, man versus transience, and the fate of humanity. His work exudes dream, fantasy and mystery. (source: Belgian Art Gallery)

Marcel Delmotte won the first Richard Dupierreux Prize for Painting and the Silver Medal of Belgian Art in 1960. The Gold Medal of the Conseil Européen d'Art Esthétique in 1964. He held several individual exhibitions in Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Germany, Japan and the United States. We find his work in the Museums in Munich, Charleroi and Ostend.

Lit:

*Le Monde imaginaire de Marcel Delmotte (W. George, publisher Mac Fourny, Paris, 1969)

* Les dessins de Delmotte (C. Dendelot and Ph. Dufrasne, publisher Mécenart, Brussels, 1992).

*Artists and Galleries, fourth (2000) and fifth (2004) editions, in BAS I, II and Two centuries of Signatures of Belgian Artists. (Piron)

Condition: In a good condition, no significant damages or repairs. Minor wear to the frame and acrylic sheet, see pictures for an overview.

The drawing was in the Fine Arts auction at Maison Jules, Ghent 29-11-2025 (unsold at €300 reserve). We are now offering it without reserve price.

This lot will be carefully packaged and sent by registered and insured mail.