Frans Manders - The old barn.

Manders attends the Academy for Industrial Design in Eindhoven. After a disagreement with a teacher, he leaves the course prematurely in 1961. He starts working as an architectural draftsman, later as a graphic designer and illustrator. After a successful exhibition of his watercolours and drawings in 1977, he makes the switch to independent artistry. In the beginning, the traditional, unspoilt Brabant landscape is his subject. He builds up a great reputation with it, but at a certain point it is no longer sufficient. Manders starts experimenting with colour, style and working method. When his studio burns down in 1995, this is the decisive factor for the change. As a starting point for his new work, he uses his memories of nature, but also of people or deep-sea fish. He starts abstracting, uses the play of lines or contrasting colour areas.

Beautiful work of which I dare not say whether it is from before or after the fire. Quality in any case very good and beautifully framed. But that frame reminds me of an older work.