René Mels (1909-1977) - Les tiges bleues
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René Mels (1909–1977) signs a mixed media on paper work titled Les tiges bleues from 1948, measuring 70.5 × 50.5 cm, with gouache and ink, an original piece from the 1940s, signed on the lower right as "R. Mels", in very good condition and unframed, produced in Belgium and sold by the artist’s or a dealer’s studio.
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Description from the seller
René Mels (pseudonym of René Meulemans, Herent 1909 – Kraainem 1977) – Blue Stems – 1948
Artist: René Mels (pseudonym of René Meulemans)
Title: Blue Stems
Year: 1948 (title and date written on the back)
Technique: Mixed media on paper (gouache, ink and bold lines)
Dimensions: 70.5 × 50.5 cm
Signature: Signed “R. Mels” at the bottom right
Condition: Very good overall. Vivid colors well preserved, aged paper with the natural patina typical of this kind of work on a flexible support.
Framed: No (sold unframed)
Provenance: Artist’s studio
Description of the work
In “Blue Stems” (1948), René Mels unfolds a composition of great vitality and remarkable graphic strength. Stylized plant forms, evoking stems and foliage, intertwine energetically on a background structured with flat areas of gray, off-white, emerald green and lemon yellow.
The intense blue strokes, almost calligraphic, structure the space with a gestural freedom that already heralds the artist’s move toward abstraction. Deep black accents, touches of red and ochre rhythm the composition, creating a dynamic balance between nerve-like lines and vibrant color.
Executed at the crossroads between his figurative-expressionist period and his first explorations of abstraction, this large work on paper reveals Mels’s talent for synthesis: a rigorous construction inherited from his classical training fused with modern expressivity.
The power of the gesture and the chromatic richness make it a major piece from his 1940s production, where nature becomes a pretext for a lyrical celebration of form and color.
Biography – René Mels (1909-1977)
René Mels, pseudonym of René Meulemans, is one of the most engaging and versatile figures of Belgian art in the 20th century. Born April 14, 1909 in Herent (near Leuven) and died December 15, 1977 in Kraainem (Woluwe-Saint-Lambert), he studied successively at the Academy of Leuven (under the direction of Alfred Delaunois), at the Academy of Brussels (1930-1933, with Henri Van Haelen, Alfred Bastien and Jean Delville) and at La Cambre (1937-1938).
From the 1930s, he developed a figurative-expressionist style influenced by Constant Permeke, favoring intimate portraits and scenes with dramatic undertones. He actively participated in the Art Jeune Salons (1938 and 1941) alongside Gaston Bertrand, Anne Bonnet and Louis Van Lint. A member of the Young Belgian Painting, he exhibited at the Palais des Beaux-Arts of Brussels from 1947.
From 1947, his language gradually evolved toward a lyrical and structured abstraction, enriched by a stay in France (Belgian state grant in 1950) where he frequented Stanley William Hayter’s Atelier 17. In 1952 he joined the Abstrait Art group alongside Jo Delahaut, Jean Milo and Pol Bury. Alongside painting, Mels excelled in printmaking, sculpture, ceramics and stained glass art. His exceptional technical mastery earned him international recognition.
His works are today in prestigious public and private collections, notably the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium (Brussels), the Catholic University of Leuven Museum, the Cabinet of Prints at the Bibliothèque nationale de France and the Brooklyn Museum (New York).
Works from the 1940s, such as Blue Stems, remain particularly sought after: they embody the pinnacle of his stylistic transition, where emotion and plastic rigor fuse into timeless poetry.
Seller's Story
About SR Fine Art
With nearly 28 years of experience in the art market, I am passionate about rediscovering artists’ studios and bringing their works to a wide audience on Catawiki.
I specialize in Belgian and European modern and contemporary art. My flagship collection is the studio archive of Robert Detheux (nearly 1,500 works on paper). I also offer surrealist drawings, beautiful abstract paintings from the 1950s, magnificent nude photographs by Michel Pinel, contemporary paintings, Cobra compositions, and works by Marcus de Vestele, Gundi Falk, René Mels, Eugène Eechaut and many others.
From intimate drawings to large formats, there is something for every taste and every budget. The vast majority of my auctions start at 1 € with no reserve price, giving everyone the chance to acquire unique pieces.
Every shipment is prepared with the utmost care using professional museum-quality packaging to ensure perfect condition upon arrival.
Join my growing community of satisfied clients and follow my new auctions to discover rare works from these exceptional studios.
Thank you for your trust and happy bidding!
SR Fine Art
Translated by Google TranslateRené Mels (pseudonym of René Meulemans, Herent 1909 – Kraainem 1977) – Blue Stems – 1948
Artist: René Mels (pseudonym of René Meulemans)
Title: Blue Stems
Year: 1948 (title and date written on the back)
Technique: Mixed media on paper (gouache, ink and bold lines)
Dimensions: 70.5 × 50.5 cm
Signature: Signed “R. Mels” at the bottom right
Condition: Very good overall. Vivid colors well preserved, aged paper with the natural patina typical of this kind of work on a flexible support.
Framed: No (sold unframed)
Provenance: Artist’s studio
Description of the work
In “Blue Stems” (1948), René Mels unfolds a composition of great vitality and remarkable graphic strength. Stylized plant forms, evoking stems and foliage, intertwine energetically on a background structured with flat areas of gray, off-white, emerald green and lemon yellow.
The intense blue strokes, almost calligraphic, structure the space with a gestural freedom that already heralds the artist’s move toward abstraction. Deep black accents, touches of red and ochre rhythm the composition, creating a dynamic balance between nerve-like lines and vibrant color.
Executed at the crossroads between his figurative-expressionist period and his first explorations of abstraction, this large work on paper reveals Mels’s talent for synthesis: a rigorous construction inherited from his classical training fused with modern expressivity.
The power of the gesture and the chromatic richness make it a major piece from his 1940s production, where nature becomes a pretext for a lyrical celebration of form and color.
Biography – René Mels (1909-1977)
René Mels, pseudonym of René Meulemans, is one of the most engaging and versatile figures of Belgian art in the 20th century. Born April 14, 1909 in Herent (near Leuven) and died December 15, 1977 in Kraainem (Woluwe-Saint-Lambert), he studied successively at the Academy of Leuven (under the direction of Alfred Delaunois), at the Academy of Brussels (1930-1933, with Henri Van Haelen, Alfred Bastien and Jean Delville) and at La Cambre (1937-1938).
From the 1930s, he developed a figurative-expressionist style influenced by Constant Permeke, favoring intimate portraits and scenes with dramatic undertones. He actively participated in the Art Jeune Salons (1938 and 1941) alongside Gaston Bertrand, Anne Bonnet and Louis Van Lint. A member of the Young Belgian Painting, he exhibited at the Palais des Beaux-Arts of Brussels from 1947.
From 1947, his language gradually evolved toward a lyrical and structured abstraction, enriched by a stay in France (Belgian state grant in 1950) where he frequented Stanley William Hayter’s Atelier 17. In 1952 he joined the Abstrait Art group alongside Jo Delahaut, Jean Milo and Pol Bury. Alongside painting, Mels excelled in printmaking, sculpture, ceramics and stained glass art. His exceptional technical mastery earned him international recognition.
His works are today in prestigious public and private collections, notably the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium (Brussels), the Catholic University of Leuven Museum, the Cabinet of Prints at the Bibliothèque nationale de France and the Brooklyn Museum (New York).
Works from the 1940s, such as Blue Stems, remain particularly sought after: they embody the pinnacle of his stylistic transition, where emotion and plastic rigor fuse into timeless poetry.
Seller's Story
About SR Fine Art
With nearly 28 years of experience in the art market, I am passionate about rediscovering artists’ studios and bringing their works to a wide audience on Catawiki.
I specialize in Belgian and European modern and contemporary art. My flagship collection is the studio archive of Robert Detheux (nearly 1,500 works on paper). I also offer surrealist drawings, beautiful abstract paintings from the 1950s, magnificent nude photographs by Michel Pinel, contemporary paintings, Cobra compositions, and works by Marcus de Vestele, Gundi Falk, René Mels, Eugène Eechaut and many others.
From intimate drawings to large formats, there is something for every taste and every budget. The vast majority of my auctions start at 1 € with no reserve price, giving everyone the chance to acquire unique pieces.
Every shipment is prepared with the utmost care using professional museum-quality packaging to ensure perfect condition upon arrival.
Join my growing community of satisfied clients and follow my new auctions to discover rare works from these exceptional studios.
Thank you for your trust and happy bidding!
SR Fine Art
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Artist
René Mels (1909-1977)
Sold with frame
No
Sold by
Owner or reseller
Edition
Original
Title of artwork
Les tiges bleues
Technique
Gouache, Watercolour painting
Signature
Hand signed
Country of origin
Belgium
Year
1948
Condition
Good condition
Height
70.5 cm
Width
50.5 cm
Style
Abstract Expressionism
Period
1940-1950
Sold by
