Albert Saverys graduated against the backdrop of the start of the First World War. At the Academy of Fine Arts in Ghent he was a student of, among others, Georges Minne and Jean Delvin. Saverys debuted in the tradition of Luminism, but was not a slavish imitator of Emile Claus. The artist preferred the technique of pointillism, which was dominated by the linear and a heavy brush technique. At that moment, he was closer to Vincent van Gogh and the French fauvism of, for example, Maurice de Vlaminck. Saverys’ work is characterised by abandoned landscapes with a highly rhythmic character. The artist’s style alternates between Luminism and Neo-Impressionism that leans towards Tachism. In addition to the significance of Japonism for Saverys’ training, the impact of the time period should also be taken into account. The ambiguous mood in his paintings reflects his enormous disappointment following World War I and the positive energy dedicated to post-war reconstruction.
Francis Maere Fine Arts Gallery