René Mels (1909-1977) - Composition abstraite de 1975
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René Mels, Composition abstraite de 1975, original 1975 aquarelle on paper, signed by hand, 41.5 × 30 cm, Belgium origin.
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Description from the seller
René Mels (1909-1977) – Composition – 1975 – Watercolor – Signed and dated
René Mels (1909-1977)
Composition Watercolor on paper, 1975
Signature
Signed “R. Mels” at the bottom right. Date in pencil, next to the signature: “75”. Verso blank, except for a small pencil annotation at the bottom left.
Dimensions 41.5 × 30 cm
Sold unframed
Condition
Beautiful sheet, light tones preserved. Paper slightly yellowed with time, a few handling creases and gentle undulations, normal for an unmounted watercolor. Small isolated stains inherent to the paper. No significant loss visible. The recto remains clean and bright. See photos.
Description
Watercolor from 1975, untitled. The sheet is built with overlapping washes: pink and carmine masses on the left and right, violet swaths at the top, water greens and olive grays in the center, diluted browns at the bottom. The shapes remain open — petals, roots or reflections — allowing the white of the paper to show through.
The gesture is broad, wet, with some drier touches and halos of successive layers. No apparent underdrawing: the watercolor alone carries the composition. This is a late work, two years before Mels’s death, in the same lyrical manner as the olive trees of Provence from those years. The format is more compact than the large sheets of 1951. The color is noted by masses, without description.
Biography
René Mels (René Meulemans, 1909-1977) trained at the Academies of Leuven and Brussels, then at La Cambre. After an expressionist beginnings influenced by Permeke, he moved toward abstraction from 1947. An active member of Jeune Peinture Belge (exhibitions 1947-1948 at the Palais des Beaux-Arts of 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, a flexible writing style and expressive chromaticism. In 1950, a state grant allowed him to work at Stanley William Hayter’s Atelier 17 in Paris.
His watercolors, engravings, pastels and paintings are in numerous public Belgian and international collections, notably 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 – 1975 – Watercolor – Signed and dated
René Mels (1909-1977)
Composition Watercolor on paper, 1975
Signature
Signed “R. Mels” at the bottom right. Date in pencil, next to the signature: “75”. Verso blank, except for a small pencil annotation at the bottom left.
Dimensions 41.5 × 30 cm
Sold unframed
Condition
Beautiful sheet, light tones preserved. Paper slightly yellowed with time, a few handling creases and gentle undulations, normal for an unmounted watercolor. Small isolated stains inherent to the paper. No significant loss visible. The recto remains clean and bright. See photos.
Description
Watercolor from 1975, untitled. The sheet is built with overlapping washes: pink and carmine masses on the left and right, violet swaths at the top, water greens and olive grays in the center, diluted browns at the bottom. The shapes remain open — petals, roots or reflections — allowing the white of the paper to show through.
The gesture is broad, wet, with some drier touches and halos of successive layers. No apparent underdrawing: the watercolor alone carries the composition. This is a late work, two years before Mels’s death, in the same lyrical manner as the olive trees of Provence from those years. The format is more compact than the large sheets of 1951. The color is noted by masses, without description.
Biography
René Mels (René Meulemans, 1909-1977) trained at the Academies of Leuven and Brussels, then at La Cambre. After an expressionist beginnings influenced by Permeke, he moved toward abstraction from 1947. An active member of Jeune Peinture Belge (exhibitions 1947-1948 at the Palais des Beaux-Arts of 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, a flexible writing style and expressive chromaticism. In 1950, a state grant allowed him to work at Stanley William Hayter’s Atelier 17 in Paris.
His watercolors, engravings, pastels and paintings are in numerous public Belgian and international collections, notably 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 1975
Technique
Watercolour painting
Signature
Hand signed
Country of origin
Belgium
Year
1975
Condition
Good condition
Height
30 cm
Width
41.5 cm
Style
Abstract
Period
1970-1980
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