René Mels (1909-1977) - Grand portrait d’homme assis – 1940 - Huile sur toile
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René Mels (1909-1977), Grand portrait of a seated man, 1940, oil on canvas, Original edition, 103.5 × 73 cm, Belgium, portrait in the expressionist style, sold with frame.
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Description from the seller
René Mels (1909-1977) – Large portrait of a seated man – 1940 - Oil on canvas
Studio stamp on the back of the stretcher + date « 1940 » written by the artist
Dimensions: 103.5 × 73 cm
Framed in a simple light wood frame
Signature / inscriptions
Stamp « René Mels – Atelier de l’artiste » on the stretcher
Inscription « 1940 » on the back of the canvas, hand-written by the artist
Provenance
Collection of the artist’s family
Condition
Studio canvas in its original state. Numerous losses, flaking, craquelure and surface wear. Canvas slightly taut. Traces of dust, handling and studio reserve. See photos. Work not restored, offered in its original condition.
Description
Large portrait of a seated man, painted in 1940, still fully figurative and expressionist.
The man, bald, with a white moustache, calm and slightly withdrawn gaze, occupies almost the full format. He wears a brown jacket with patch pockets, upturned collar, left sleeve dark. Hands are prominently rendered, one resting on the thigh, the other brought against the chest. The dark background, structured by elements of wood and planes of shadow, evokes the atelier.
The medium is dense, worked with broad brushstrokes and sometimes with a mop brush. Browns, ochres, earth tones and blacks predominate; the flesh tones remain luminous despite wear. The modeling of the face and hands remains firm. This is a large-format piece for its period, still close to Permeke’s influence (monumentality of the figure, earthy palette, physical presence of the model), before the shift toward abstraction beginning in 1947.
Authentic studio canvas, still in the family, with its stamp and original date. The generous format and the quality of the gaze make this a rare record of Mels’ figurative period.
Biography
René Mels (René Meulemans, 1909-1977), born in Herent-lez-Louvain, trained at the Academy of Louvain and at Brussels, then at La Cambre.
From 1931 he exhibited an expressionism influenced by Constant Permeke. He participated in Art Jeune salons (1938, 1941). After this figurative period, he evolved toward abstraction from 1947. An active member of Jeune Peinture Belge (exhibitions 1947-1948 at the Palace of Fine Arts in Brussels), he joined the group Art abstrait in 1952 and co-founded Cap d’encre in 1963.
In 1950 a state grant allowed him to work at Atelier 17 of Stanley William Hayter in Paris. His oeuvre is characterized by a concern with construction, fluidity of handling and expressive chromaticism. His paintings, watercolors and prints are held in many public Belgian and international collections, notably the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium.
A large-format studio piece, dated and stamped, coming directly from the artist’s family. Of the artist’s studio condition; a fine and rare portrait from René Mels’ expressionist period.
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 (1909-1977) – Large portrait of a seated man – 1940 - Oil on canvas
Studio stamp on the back of the stretcher + date « 1940 » written by the artist
Dimensions: 103.5 × 73 cm
Framed in a simple light wood frame
Signature / inscriptions
Stamp « René Mels – Atelier de l’artiste » on the stretcher
Inscription « 1940 » on the back of the canvas, hand-written by the artist
Provenance
Collection of the artist’s family
Condition
Studio canvas in its original state. Numerous losses, flaking, craquelure and surface wear. Canvas slightly taut. Traces of dust, handling and studio reserve. See photos. Work not restored, offered in its original condition.
Description
Large portrait of a seated man, painted in 1940, still fully figurative and expressionist.
The man, bald, with a white moustache, calm and slightly withdrawn gaze, occupies almost the full format. He wears a brown jacket with patch pockets, upturned collar, left sleeve dark. Hands are prominently rendered, one resting on the thigh, the other brought against the chest. The dark background, structured by elements of wood and planes of shadow, evokes the atelier.
The medium is dense, worked with broad brushstrokes and sometimes with a mop brush. Browns, ochres, earth tones and blacks predominate; the flesh tones remain luminous despite wear. The modeling of the face and hands remains firm. This is a large-format piece for its period, still close to Permeke’s influence (monumentality of the figure, earthy palette, physical presence of the model), before the shift toward abstraction beginning in 1947.
Authentic studio canvas, still in the family, with its stamp and original date. The generous format and the quality of the gaze make this a rare record of Mels’ figurative period.
Biography
René Mels (René Meulemans, 1909-1977), born in Herent-lez-Louvain, trained at the Academy of Louvain and at Brussels, then at La Cambre.
From 1931 he exhibited an expressionism influenced by Constant Permeke. He participated in Art Jeune salons (1938, 1941). After this figurative period, he evolved toward abstraction from 1947. An active member of Jeune Peinture Belge (exhibitions 1947-1948 at the Palace of Fine Arts in Brussels), he joined the group Art abstrait in 1952 and co-founded Cap d’encre in 1963.
In 1950 a state grant allowed him to work at Atelier 17 of Stanley William Hayter in Paris. His oeuvre is characterized by a concern with construction, fluidity of handling and expressive chromaticism. His paintings, watercolors and prints are held in many public Belgian and international collections, notably the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium.
A large-format studio piece, dated and stamped, coming directly from the artist’s family. Of the artist’s studio condition; a fine and rare portrait from René Mels’ expressionist period.
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
Yes
Sold by
Owner or reseller
Edition
Original
Title of artwork
Grand portrait d’homme assis – 1940 - Huile sur toile
Technique
Oil painting
Signature
Not signed
Country of origin
Belgium
Year
1940
Condition
Needs restoration
Height
103.5 cm
Width
73 cm
Depiction/theme
Portrait
Style
Expressionism
Period
1930-1940
Sold by
