Belen Louis

Louis Belen was a Belgian artist, born in Leuven in 1883 and died in Leuven in 1959. He was a painter, draftsman and sculptor. He trained in sculpture at the academies in Leuven and Brussels. In Leuven he worked in the sculptor's studio of Frantz Vermeylen, in Brussels in the studios of, among others, G. Van Hoof, J. Jacobs and Van Den Bosch. He created landscapes, but also found inspiration in the Leuven Great Beguinage and in the working class. His works show the influence of X. Mellery and E. Laermans. He settled in Brussels in 1916. He exhibited in the Raphael Hall in Brussels in 1918. From the press at the time: “Belen is from Leuven, he shows us drawings of his native city. He must love them dearly, fiercely and passionately. There is an intense feeling, a peace and a sadness that is depressing.” He worked as a sculptor-restorer for the city of Brussels from 1920 to 1942. He then found inspiration in the Brussels slums, factory districts, church interiors and streets. In 1956 Louis Belen settled in Heverlee/Leuven. From then on he mainly made landscapes from Walloon Brabant and Leuven street views. In 1960, a retrospective of his work was held in the town hall in Leuven. He is mentioned in Two centuries of signatures of Belgian artists. (Piron)