Roger Raveel (1921-2013) - Aanschouw

Roger Raveel (1921–2013): Belgian Master of Visual Surrealism

Roger Raveel (1921–2013) was an influential Belgian painter best known for his unique, innovative style in which figuration and abstraction come together in a surprising way. He was born in Machelen-aan-de-Leie, a village that formed a lasting source of inspiration for his work. Raveel’s ability to transform ordinary objects and situations into meaningful and symbolic compositions was characteristic of his visual language. His use of color and precision in rendering details gave his work a distinctive aesthetic. He gained broad recognition with important exhibitions, including his participation in the Venice Biennale, and received numerous awards, such as the Belgian State Prize for Visual Arts. Additionally, in 1999 the Roger Raveel Museum opened in his birthplace, underscoring his lasting impact on the art world. Through his idiosyncratic approach and strong visual language, he grew into one of Belgium’s most important postwar artists.


"Aanschouw" by Roger Raveel
1973
Screen print and signed in the central white square
Dimensions: 80 x 60 with frame
Edition 80 of 175
Provenance: grandfather’s estate who bought it years earlier at Gallery De Vuyst
Excellent condition with some rust stains at the top of the iron frame
Shipped with frame in accordance with the buyer

The proposed work shows two men who are observing something. Raveel here demonstrates his masterful talent for taking this everyday scenario of observing something and transforming it into a symbolic composition. Thanks to his color palette and the characteristic white square, everyday reality is distorted into something abstract. The central white square immediately draws attention because it replaces the central object of the canvas. Are we the ones observing the men, or are they observing us through that white square? Are the men on the canvas also a work of art observing us? An intriguing aesthetics that never tires.