De Swerts Joz

Joz De Swerts was a Belgian artist, born in Antwerp in 1890 and died in Merksem in 1939. He was a painter, draftsman, caricaturist and illustrator. He was educated at the Academy and at the Higher Institute in Antwerp. During World War I, he was seriously wounded at the Battle of Halen. He stayed in Le Havre where he painted many portraits. He worked as a fashion designer until 1928 and then established himself as an independent artist. He painted with broad brushstrokes or with a palette knife; his subjects were: marines, Scheldt faces, portraits and still lifes, often with pewter dishes, dead birds and fruits. He gained fame as a political cartoonist and published with De Standaard, Pallieter and Ons Volk Ontwaakt, among others. He worked as a humorous draftsman and caricaturist under the pseudonym Joz and in 1923 drawings also appeared under the pseudonym 't Pallieterke. He also designed several posters for the Yser pilgrimages. His work can be found in the Museum in Antwerp, among other places. He is mentioned in CRICK, BAS I and Two centuries of signatures of Belgian artists. (piron)