Van Den Broeck Dries

Dries Van den Broeck was a Belgian artist, born in Vorselaar in 1923 and died in Kessel in 1995. He was a painter, draftsman and graphic artist. He signed with 'Dries'. In 1939 he was a student at Sint-Lucas in Ghent, under the supervision of V. Beulens, M. Tillet, G. Hermans and M. Deloore. In 1940 he was called up to defend the fatherland. In 1942 he was educated at the Academy in Antwerp under the supervision of R. Van Cauwenberghe, in 1943 at the Higher Institute in Antwerp under the direction of Is. Opsomer He learned to etch with the Trappists in Westmalle. In 1948 he graduated from the Academy. From 1949 he wandered for a few years in Morocco, Italy, France and Spain. He loved Italy and attended the Academies of Venice, Rome, Florence, Bologna and Milan. His many travels stimulated him in his never-ending quest, in constantly growing, evolving and discovering new things in life. He realized portraits, landscapes and still lifes. He devoted himself to drawing and painting in all its facets: drawings, watercolors, oil paint, etching, lithography, monotypes and mixed media. The nature of his work evolved and was very diverse: from the landscape and the portrait to abstract work in which the color subjects prevail, from almost expressionistic figures to the pure play of form with color. From 1963 to 1971 he worked as a plastic education teacher. Dries Van den Broeck lived and worked for the last 30 years of his life in the Blauwhof, a Kempen farm that he had renovated. There he had his home, his studio and a gallery for exhibitions. It grew into a cultural meeting place, where music and declamation could also take place. He is mentioned in BAS II and Two Centuries of Signatures of Belgian Artists. (Piron, BT)