Maes Jacques
Jacques Maes was a Belgian artist who was born in Ixelles in 1905 and who died in Benicarlo/Spain in 1968. He was a painter, draftsman and etcher. Training at the Academy in Brussels under direction of Delville, Richier, Montald, Combaz (1920-1924 and 1933-1934). Second for the Prix de Rome in 1930. Designed large decorative panels in 1935 for the World Exhibition in Brussels. Debuted with expressionist figures, portraits and still lifes and evolved through poetic realism to a strongly structured intimism. His stay in Peru led to a warmer and brighter color palette and, impressed by the overwhelming nature and intense light, he created works which reflect a powerful structure, in which the colors merge into each other without perspective or relief. Was sometimes close to abstract art, but never took the decisive step. Also designed murals and cartons for carpets. From the press: “He practiced modernism that had remained figurative and paid particular attention to intimate subjects that he was unable to present without some monumentality. Maes was thus, de facto, one of the fathers of animism.” Was a teacher and director at the Academy in Sint-Joost-ten-Node from 1936 and from 1950 to 1968 teacher at the Academy in Brussels. Stayed in Peru between 1946 and 1948 and managed a studio at the Academy in Lima. Was killed in an accident in Spain. Work in the Museums in Brussels, Antwerp, Ixelles, Leuven, Ghent, Mons, La Louvière and Tournai. Mentioned in BAS I and Two centuries of signatures of Belgian artists. (PIRON)