This early 20th-century oil painting by Belgian artist Jef Claesen (1878-1965) depicts a golden view in De Liereman, Kempen.
Illuminated with a radial glow, the shimmering sky casts its final embers atop a damp heath. The trees appear like shadows of old friends while ragged branches dip towards calm water.
Claesen was transfixed by the magical dunes and drifting fens of De Liereman. Together with a circle of like-minded artists, he worked tirelessly to capture its transient moods. Much like the Barbizon School in France, the ‘Liereman painters’ were obsessed with nature in its truest sense - without embellishment or fictional flourishes. The scenery here lends itself to honesty - its vistas are romantic enough.
Signed and held within its original gilt frame.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 37½” x 33½” / 95cm x 85cm
Year of creation: c. 1920
Labels & Inscriptions: Original canvas supplier’s stamp on reverse.
Condition: Artwork presents well. Light craquelure in areas but the paint is stable. Frame with some light wear.
Artist’s auction maximum: £4,510
Jef Claesen trained under Eugène Surinx (1850-1936) and Albert Sohie (1873-1927).
Learn more about Jef Claesen in our directory.
We care profoundly about our role as custodians and every piece in the collection has been assessed by our conservator. When required, we undertake professional restoration carefully using reversible techniques and adopt a light touch to retain the aged charm of each work. We also restore frames rather than replace them as many are original and selected by the artists themselves.
