10 Works, Today January 5th is Theodoor Verstraete's day, #005

Théodore Verstraete (1850–1907) 

High tide, c. 1851-1907

Oil on canvas

Height: 66.5 cm (26.1 in); Width: 80.5 cm (31.6 in)

Administration communale Saint-Josse-ten-Noode

Theodoor Verstraete, also spelled Theodor Verstraete and Théodore Verstraete (5 January 1850 – 8 January 1907) was a Belgian Realist painter and printmaker who is known for his landscapes depicting life in the countryside as well as his paintings of the Belgian coastal landscape. He has been called the 'poet of rural life' who depicted the humble life of the people in the countryside with empathy.

Théodore Verstraete  (1850–1907)

To the vigil, c. 1889-1890

Oil on canvas

Height: 172 cm (67.7 in); Width: 294 cm (115.7 in)

Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp 

Verstraete initially showed an inclination for music and accompanied his parents on their theatre tours including a trip in 1860 to the Netherlands. He was also keen on drawing. In 1867 he commenced his studies at the Antwerp Academy.

Théodore Verstraete  (1850–1907)

Plowing the field

Oil Edit this at Wikidata

Height: 103.5 cm (40.7 in) Width: 113.6 cm (44.7 in)

Museum of Fine Arts, Ghent

From 1873 to 1878 Verstraete attended the free workshop of Jacob Jacobs, which was linked to the Academy. That year he got married. He relied for his finances on aid from his mother as well as his work as a drummer and decorative painter at the theatre. He was living in Brussels.

Theodor Verstraete (Belgian, 1851–1907)

Meisje met veldbloemen/Girl with wild flowers

Oil on canvas

51 x 35 cm. (20.1 x 13.8 in.)

Private collection

Verstraete showed his first canvases at the Antwerp Salon of 1876 or 1877. From that time onwards, he regularly contributed to exhibitions. He achieved his first success in 1882 with his painting Dusk, which was awarded an honorable mention in Paris and a gold medal in Antwerp.

Théodore Verstraete  (1850–1907)

After the rain, c. 1891

Oil on canvas

Height: 113.3 cm (44.6 in); Width: 176.2 cm (69.3 in)

Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp

In 1878 Verstraete left the Academy and went to work the next year in a picturesque house in Brasschaat, near Antwerp. His house was built in the middle of nature in the Campine region of Belgium. From here he traveled around in his caravan to paint the surrounding landscapes. He only visited his family, presumably still living in Brussels, on the weekends. Verstraete was called the 'painter of Brasschaat' and other painters working with him or receiving training from him were considered to be members of the so-called 'School of Brasschaat' of landscape painting.

Théodore Verstraete  (1850–1907)

The holy food for the journey

Oil on canvas

Height: 73.1 cm (28.7 in); Width: 122 cm (48 in)

Bavarian State Painting Collections

Verstraete was, in 1883, a co-founder of the Antwerp group of artists called 'Wees U Zelf' ('Be yourself'). The manifest of the group argued for maintaining the tradition. Verstraete was in 1891 a co-founder in Antwerp of the artist association 'De XIII', which aimed to liberate art of the reigning academism. It planned to organize annual exhibitions (salons) in Antwerp as well as group exhibitions. During its existence the association, which was disbanded in 1899, organized three salons.

Théodore Verstraete  (1850–1907)

Blankenberge, September

Oil on canvas

34 x 54 cm

Private collection

Blankenberge is a town and a municipality in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the town of Blankenberge proper and the settlement of Uitkerke.

Blankenberge is a main characteristic of this one is that it is a national and to a certain extent international seaside resort. More on Blankenberge

The financial situation of Verstraete improved after he was introduced in 1886 to art collector and patron Henri Van Cutsem. Van Cutsem encouraged Verstraete to travel to various places in the Netherlands such as Hansweert, Leiden, Utrecht and Schoore in Zeeland, where he etched and painted. Theodoor Verstraete also spent time in Blankenberge on the Belgian coast where Van Cutsem owned a villa and invited his artist friends to visit. 

Theodoor Verstraete

Fishermen’s wives at the beach

Oil on canvas

31.5 x 62.5 cm 

Private collection

Verstraete was fascinated with the mobile spectacle of water and air near the sea. While the relationship with Van Cutsem resulted in a considerable improvement of Verstraete's finances, he was in 1893 struck by a stroke, which possibly led to blindness and inability to speak. This signaled the end of the artistic career of Verstraete.

Theodoor Verstraete

Fishermen's Houses in the Dunes

Oil on canvas

98 x 130.5 cm.

Private collection

The destitute Verstraete could thereafter only survive financially through the support of his patron Henri Van Cutsem, who gave him after 1904 a monthly stipend. Van Cutsem also regularly bought from Verstraete paintings, which he later returned to the artist. The retrospective exhibitions of 1895 in Zaal Verlat and in 1906 were also a welcome source of income.

Theodor Verstraete (Belgian, 1851–1907)

Paysage de neige au crépuscule/Snowy landscape at dusk, c. 1888

Oil on Canvas

32 x 54 cm. (12.6 x 21.3 in.)

Private collection

During his last years Theodoor Verstraete continued to suffer from ill health and mental disability. He died on 8 January 1907. More on Theodoor Verstraete