Hubert Henri De Vries (1899 -1979) | Belgian Artist

Hubert De Vries was a Belgian artist born in Antwerp in 1899 and died there in 1979. During World War I, he stayed with his parents at Calais (France). After the war, he studied under baron I. Opsomer and J. Creytens at the Koninklijke Academie voor Schone kunsten (Royal Academy of Fine Arts) in Antwerp. He worked in Sint-Gillis, Dendermonde, from 1943 to 1948, and thereafter in Antwerp. He greatly admired Jakob Smits and the Flemish Expressionists. In particular, he was influenced by Gustave De Smet and Constant Permeke. He had a preference for marines, portraits, figures and religious subjects. Many of his works are included in the collections of King Albert, the Belgian State, the Museum of the University of Jerusalem, and in other important collections. In 1962, he was awarded the International Prize of Painting of Monaco. In 1963, he became a member of the Centro di Studi a Scambi Internazionali.

The lumpy paint paste and the mystical light which reflects in some works is reminiscent of Jakob Smits.

Sources: www.belgian-art-gallery.be; www.gallerease.com