‘The Light Masters of the Lys' : Emile Claus and his artist friends
In this exhibition, we pay tribute to the extraordinary artist friends who lived and worked around the Leie region in the late 19th and early 20th centuries: Emile Claus, Albijn Van den Abeele, Xavier De Cock and George Minne. Each of them left an indelible mark on Flemish art history, and together they explored new ways of capturing landscape, light and human experience.
This exhibition invites you to look through the eyes of Claus and his artist friends, to feel the magic of light and rediscover the landscape of the Lys in all its sparkling beauty. Emile Claus (1849-1924)
A pioneer of luminism and the central figure of this exhibition, Emile Claus is known for his exceptional mastery of light. His paintings capture the vibrant atmosphere of the Flemish landscape, especially along the banks of the Lys. Claus sought a new, more modern way of depicting nature, in which the play of light and shadow played the leading role. He drew inspiration from Impressionism, but gave it his own, brighter and more distinctly Flemish interpretation. His art depicts rural life, but always through a radiant, almost ethereal lens.
Xavier De Cock (1818-1896)
The eldest of the group, Xavier De Cock played an important role in the transition from realism to impressionism in Belgium. As a landscape painter, he mainly captured rural scenes, capturing the harmony and serenity of the Flemish landscape. His works exude a serene atmosphere, where man and nature blend harmoniously. De Cock's sensitivity to the landscape influenced the younger generation of artists, including Claus, who would continue the power of light in an even more dynamic way.
Albijn Van den Abeele (1835-1918)
A contemporary and friend of Claus, Van den Abeele was a painter and fellow Latem villager. His work is often characterised by an intimate view of rural life and nature. Although less well-known than Claus, Van den Abeele had a profound influence on the artist colony in Sint-Martens-Latem, where he acted as a kind of patriarchal figure. His oeuvre shows a strong sense of the simplicity and tranquillity of peasant life, developing his own variant of realism and luminism.
George Minne (1866-1941)
As a sculptor, George Minne brought another artistic dimension to this circle of painters. His works, steeped in symbolism and spirituality, are intensely emotional and often subdued in their expression. Minne, who was also associated with the symbolist movement, was fascinated by human vulnerability. His stylised figures, often in a subdued and contemplative pose, enhance the sense of introspection and emotional depth. Minne's sculptures poignantly complement the light-flooded paintings of his contemporaries.
The Friendship and the Lys
What united these artists was their love of nature and the Flemish landscape, especially the enchanting surroundings of the Leie. Here they found not only inspiration, but also peace and a shared sense of belonging. Although their artistic forms of expression differed, their shared interest in capturing the subtle nuances of light, atmosphere and human emotion formed the basis of their long-standing friendship.
