Field of Stubble, 1912

Albert Servaes is known in the first place as a painter of religious scenes. However, he actually painted far more landscapes, especially in the surroundings of Sint-Martens-Latem, where he moved in 1904. Neither the subtle symbolism of the first Latem group nor the luminism of Emile Claus appealed to him. This modest landscape is a good example of the uncomplicated art Servaes practised at the start of his career. He did not look for an unusual perspective or a charming spot, but, with rough brushstrokes, in simple areas of thickly applied dark earth colours, he created a synthetic image of a banal field of stubble at the edge of a wood. Servaes’ direct and impulsive way of painting was a particular influence on Constant Permeke in his evolution towards Expressionism.