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About Maurice Boel
Maurice Boel (1913 – 1998) was born into an artistic family in 1913. He pursued his studies in Brussels, where he received instruction from artists such as Alfred Bastien and Paul Mathieu. It was there that he encountered many like-minded individuals, including Constant Permeke, whose influence profoundly shaped Boel's early 20th-century paintings. His first exhibition took place in 1938 at the Studio gallery in Ostend, where he received praise from James Ensor, who even penned the introduction for the exhibition. During and immediately after the Second World War, Maurice Boel created figurative works with a sensuous quality. However, he gradually transitioned towards abstract art, driven by his exploration of color, line and form, while maintaining an openness towards figurative art. Movement became a central element in many of his compositions, with the planes in his paintings seemingly dancing in colorful harmony.
As Boel delved deeper into abstraction, his work gained greater emotional depth, a quality shared with other pioneers of abstract art such as Mark Rothko and Hans Hartung. He belonged to a second generation of abstract artists, drawing inspiration from cubists like Piet Mondrian and Victor Servranckx. In addition to painting, Boel and his wife, Opie Boel, also created tapestries characterized by their dynamic and tactile nature, showcasing a profound understanding of the medium. Boel's work is impressive for its aristocratic character and decorative effect. It possesses a heartfelt sophistication rarely found in modern art in Flanders. Boel could count Fernand Graindorge, formerly one of the most important Belgian collectors of modern art, and Théo Lefèvre, former Prime Minister, among his admirers. Boel's artistic journey included five solo exhibitions at the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels.