Evariste Carpentier

Evariste Carpentier was, in addition to Emile Claus, one of the earliest representatives of Luminism in Belgium. In his first period Carpentier painted mostly genre works and scenes of the French Revolution. He would later compose mostly vivid scenes of pleasant life and magnificent scenery. He studied at the Academy of Kortrijk and Antwerp. He won 2 prizes in three years, which entitled him to his own studio in 1866. Even though his compositions were primarily academic, Carpentier was open to innovation. In 1880 he moved to Paris, where he painted a large number of romantic history and war subjects. The memory of Kuurne remains vividly in his work.

After his marriage his work undergoes a metamorphosis. Carpentier changed his focus and became the poetic painter of rural life. In 1904 he was appointed director at the Academy of Fine Arts in Liège. His way of painting “en plein air” influenced a great deal of young artist in this area. Therefore he can be considered as the founding father of the impressionist mouvement in Liège.

Influenced by French impressionism, Evariste Carpentier was one of Belgium’s earliest representatives of Luminism. Unlike many French impressionists, drawing and shape to him are as important as light and colour. Carpentier exhibited, among others, in Amsterdam, Paris, Chicago, Philadelphia and Barcelona.