2024 marks the 100th anniversary of the death of Emile Claus ( 1849-1924), the most important Belgian impressionist. lt is immediately a double anniversary, as he was also born 175 years ago. Emile Claus enjoyed great fame in his time as a pointer of light, and Claus knew how to put the specific atmosphere and life on and around the Lys on canvas like no other. With the key work "Beet Harvest" and many other works from his oeuvre, Claus is inextricably linked to the collection of the museum of Deinze and to the region of the Leie region.
The mudel sees the double anniversary as the impetus fora new exhibition of top works. The finest paintings from all periods of Emile Claus' oeuvre will be shown, thanks in part to the exceptional collaboration of the Museum of Fine Arts in Ghent. Many other museums at home and abroad are taking their works by Claus out of their permanent display or depot so that they can be brought together in the mudel.
Emile Claus' talent was discovered during his academie period in Antwerp. Claus emerged there as a portrait and genre pointer, among other things. His journey in 1879 - through Spain and Morocco - to Algeria was crucial to his increasing attention to the landscape. In the following decade, the artist made a definitive breakthrough. With key works such as Cockfight, Beet Harvest in Flanders and The Skaters, he achieved great acclaim and his paintings were acquired by major museums, for the royal collection and important private collections. The sublime treatment of light in his works earned him the designation of "Prince of Luminism," among ethers. By the end of the 19th century, the "Master of Astene," who by now had settled in the Leie region at Villa Zonneschijn, was incontournable with the art public and was allowed to count the elite of the cultural world among his eirele of friends.
As part of the "relance project Flemish Masters," Emile Claus was also recognized as a Flemish Master by Tourism Flanders. Claus' work is discussed at home and abroad. His virtuoso painterly touch is admired, then and now.
More info and tickets can be found at www.emile-claus.be.