René Mels (1909-1977) - Composition abstraite de 1970
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René Mels (1909-1977) – Composition abstraite de 1970, 1970, watercolour on paper, 40 × 31.5 cm, signed and dated, original edition, Belgium, in good condition, unframed.
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Description from the seller
René Mels (1909-1977) – Composition – 1970 – Watercolour – Signed and dated
René Mels (1909-1977)
Composition Watercolour on paper, 1970
Signature Signed “R. Mels” at the bottom right. Date in pencil, under the signature: “70”. Pencil inscription in the center of the sheet: “pri clouet / 200 - Jean clouet”. Verso: study in pencil, annotations barely legible.
Dimensions 40 × 31.5 cm
Sold unframed
Condition
Beautiful sheet, light tones preserved. Paper slightly yellowed with time, a few handling creases. The central inscription is original, in pencil, placed in a blank area of the composition. No major damage visible. The recto remains clear and bright. See photos.
Description
Watercolour from 1970, without a title inscription. The sheet is left largely white. On the left, long brown and olive strokes, almost tree trunks; in the center, green and black touches, an oblique line; on the right, pools of blue and gray, brushed diagonally. The white holds the middle.
The gesture is dry, laid down by separate strokes, without filling in. The pencil inscription “pri clouet / 200 - Jean clouet” remains in the center, in the blank space.
This is a sheet from the final period, in the same year as other dated 70 watercolours, more constructed than the washes of 1975. Vertical format. The color is noted by masses, the white does the rest.
Biography
René Mels (René Meulemans, 1909-1977) trained at the Academies of Leuven and Brussels, then at La Cambre. After an early expressionist phase influenced by Permeke, he moved from 1947 toward abstraction.
Active member of the Jeune Peinture Belge (exhibitions 1947-1948 at the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels), he joined the group Art abstrait in 1952 and co-founded Cap d’encre in 1963. His work is characterized by a concern for construction, flexibility of handling and expressive chromaticism.
In 1950, a state grant allowed him to work at Stanley William Hayter’s Atelier 17 in Paris. His watercolours, prints, pastels and paintings are in numerous public Belgian and international collections, notably at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium.
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) – Composition – 1970 – Watercolour – Signed and dated
René Mels (1909-1977)
Composition Watercolour on paper, 1970
Signature Signed “R. Mels” at the bottom right. Date in pencil, under the signature: “70”. Pencil inscription in the center of the sheet: “pri clouet / 200 - Jean clouet”. Verso: study in pencil, annotations barely legible.
Dimensions 40 × 31.5 cm
Sold unframed
Condition
Beautiful sheet, light tones preserved. Paper slightly yellowed with time, a few handling creases. The central inscription is original, in pencil, placed in a blank area of the composition. No major damage visible. The recto remains clear and bright. See photos.
Description
Watercolour from 1970, without a title inscription. The sheet is left largely white. On the left, long brown and olive strokes, almost tree trunks; in the center, green and black touches, an oblique line; on the right, pools of blue and gray, brushed diagonally. The white holds the middle.
The gesture is dry, laid down by separate strokes, without filling in. The pencil inscription “pri clouet / 200 - Jean clouet” remains in the center, in the blank space.
This is a sheet from the final period, in the same year as other dated 70 watercolours, more constructed than the washes of 1975. Vertical format. The color is noted by masses, the white does the rest.
Biography
René Mels (René Meulemans, 1909-1977) trained at the Academies of Leuven and Brussels, then at La Cambre. After an early expressionist phase influenced by Permeke, he moved from 1947 toward abstraction.
Active member of the Jeune Peinture Belge (exhibitions 1947-1948 at the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels), he joined the group Art abstrait in 1952 and co-founded Cap d’encre in 1963. His work is characterized by a concern for construction, flexibility of handling and expressive chromaticism.
In 1950, a state grant allowed him to work at Stanley William Hayter’s Atelier 17 in Paris. His watercolours, prints, pastels and paintings are in numerous public Belgian and international collections, notably at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium.
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
Composition abstraite de 1970
Technique
Watercolour painting
Signature
Hand signed
Country of origin
Belgium
Year
1970
Condition
Good condition
Height
40 cm
Width
31.5 cm
Style
Abstract
Period
1970-1980
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