René Mels (1909-1977) - Composition abstraite 1975
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€ 25
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Selected by Giulia Couzzi
Master’s in culture and arts innovation, with a decade in 20th-21st century Italian art.
Estimate € 300 - € 380
 | €25 | |
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 | €20 | |
| €18 | |
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René Mels, Composition abstraite 1975, a watercolor on paper (42 × 29.5 cm), signed and dated, original edition, from Belgium, created in 1975, in good condition.
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Description from the seller
FR :
Payment required before the evening of October 25. No shipments possible from October 26 for nearly 3 weeks (absence).
——-
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, below or near the signature: “75”.
Verso blank, except for a few small workshop marks and a small hole.
Dimensions: 42 × 29.5 cm
Sold unframed
Condition
Beautiful sheet, light, luminous tones well preserved. Paper slightly yellowed with age, a few light handling creases. Small mark on the verso. No significant loss visible. The recto remains clean and airy. See photos.
Description
a Watercolor from 1975, untitled. The composition is organized with fluid, overlapping washes. At the top, a wide horizontal blue band; in the center and to the left, vertical masses of yellow and ochre, punctuated by denser green and blue shapes that evoke foliage or organic silhouettes.
At the bottom, pinks and mauves spread in soft curves. The white of the paper largely remains, giving light to the whole.
The gesture is more fluid and airy than in the gestural works of the 1960s: the water has worked freely, contours blend, colors overlap without hardening.
It is a sheet from the final period, signed and dated, two years before Mels’s death. Horizontal format. The color is noted by transparent masses, the stroke is discreet.
A characteristic work of the end of Mels’s career: gentle chromaticism, spontaneity of the wash, balance between landscape suggestion and pure abstraction.
Biography
René Mels (René Meulemans, 1909-1977) trained at the Academies of Leuven and Brussels, then at La Cambre. After an Expressionist start influenced by Permeke, he moved in 1947 toward abstraction.
Active member of Young Belgian Painting (exhibitions 1947-1948 at the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels), he joined the group Abstract Art in 1952 and co-founded Cap d’encre in 1963. His work is characterized by construction, flexible handling, and expressive chromaticism.
In 1950, a state grant enabled him to work at Stanley William Hayter’s Atelier 17 in Paris. His watercolors, engravings, pastels, and paintings are housed 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 TranslateFR :
Payment required before the evening of October 25. No shipments possible from October 26 for nearly 3 weeks (absence).
——-
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, below or near the signature: “75”.
Verso blank, except for a few small workshop marks and a small hole.
Dimensions: 42 × 29.5 cm
Sold unframed
Condition
Beautiful sheet, light, luminous tones well preserved. Paper slightly yellowed with age, a few light handling creases. Small mark on the verso. No significant loss visible. The recto remains clean and airy. See photos.
Description
a Watercolor from 1975, untitled. The composition is organized with fluid, overlapping washes. At the top, a wide horizontal blue band; in the center and to the left, vertical masses of yellow and ochre, punctuated by denser green and blue shapes that evoke foliage or organic silhouettes.
At the bottom, pinks and mauves spread in soft curves. The white of the paper largely remains, giving light to the whole.
The gesture is more fluid and airy than in the gestural works of the 1960s: the water has worked freely, contours blend, colors overlap without hardening.
It is a sheet from the final period, signed and dated, two years before Mels’s death. Horizontal format. The color is noted by transparent masses, the stroke is discreet.
A characteristic work of the end of Mels’s career: gentle chromaticism, spontaneity of the wash, balance between landscape suggestion and pure abstraction.
Biography
René Mels (René Meulemans, 1909-1977) trained at the Academies of Leuven and Brussels, then at La Cambre. After an Expressionist start influenced by Permeke, he moved in 1947 toward abstraction.
Active member of Young Belgian Painting (exhibitions 1947-1948 at the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels), he joined the group Abstract Art in 1952 and co-founded Cap d’encre in 1963. His work is characterized by construction, flexible handling, and expressive chromaticism.
In 1950, a state grant enabled him to work at Stanley William Hayter’s Atelier 17 in Paris. His watercolors, engravings, pastels, and paintings are housed 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
Sold with frame
No
Sold by
Owner or reseller
Edition
Original
Artist
René Mels (1909-1977)
Title of artwork
Composition abstraite 1975
Technique
Watercolour painting
Signature
Hand signed
Country of origin
Belgium
Year
1975
Condition
Good condition
Height
29.5 cm
Width
42 cm
Style
Abstract
Period
1970-1980
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