De Vree Albert

Albert De Vree is a Belgian artist born in 1942 in Lillo Antwerp. From the age of 16, he followed a higher secondary cycle in drawing and art history at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp. Despite the bizarre movements in contemporary art, Albert De Vree continues to believe that a thorough knowledge of "old-fashioned technology" still lies at the basis of any work of art. As a graphic artist, he immerses himself in etching technique and knows how to use it very refinedly at the service of his landscape themes. In a relatively short time, this unsophisticated and strong-willed artist became a remarkable figure in Belgian graphics. His works have been purchased by various municipalities, by domestic and foreign collectors and by the Municipal Print Room of Antwerp. He also uses a covering method in his watercolors, which is closely related to the etching technique. They reflect a clear love for the landscape and each breathe the atmosphere that initially struck the artist. To escape the limitations of flat canvas, paper or copper, Albert De Vree ventures into the three-dimensional plane with equal success. Bronze and terracotta prove to be a rewarding material and give him a broadening impulse to continue following his classical path. The work of this versatile craftsman requires no brain torture from his spectators. On the contrary, he makes them look at the simplicity of things, so that they can be touched by their beauty. This is also the silent power that the artist's works exert on his viewers (René Turkry (AICA)).