Theodore Joseph Verschaeren

Theodore Joseph Verschaeren was a Belgian artist, born in Mechelen in 1874 and died in Muizen in 1937. He was a painter, engraver and playwright. He was the brother of Barth and Karel Verschaeren. He was educated at the Academy in Mechelen under the direction of W. Geets and W. Rosier. His actual oeuvre dates from after the First World War, nothing was spared from his earlier work. The most important theme in his oeuvre is undoubtedly the mother figure. Later this theme was expanded to include a series of clowns, miners, soldiers, women, portraits, various types and compositions with figures and flowers. He used an expressionistic design. He gained fame as a delicate portrait painter of women, sometimes incorporating a tender humorous note into the portrait. He made numerous etchings, some of which are reminiscent of Ensor. He was a member of the Circles De Distel and Van Onzen Tijd. From 1921 to 1937 he was a teacher at the Academy in Mechelen. He also wrote several plays. Joseph Verschaeren was friends with Maurits Sabbe, Jozef Muls and Constant Godelaine, among others. We can find his work in the museum in Mechelen, among other places. Joseph Verschaeren is mentioned in BAS I and Two centuries of signatures of Belgian artists. (piron)