Work Theodoor Verstraete

after rain

verstraete part of group of belgian painters took refuge complexity of urban life simplicity, purity , naturalness in pre-industrial countryside. saw countryside serene world, stood in sharp contrast familiar urban environment. there looked quiet , contemplation , identified simple villagers. had particular fondness campine region, relatively isolated , had been untouched industrialization. of these artists, such frans van leemputten , verstraete both worked in campine, depicted rural reality own urban background , viewpoint.

in works created in brasschaat theodoor verstraete driven social consciousness , compassion villagers. verstraete described works expressions of feelings of compassion with, , admiration for, peasants had struggle ungrateful earth survival. painted sad impressions of resignedly working, devout peasants in melancholic environment. these melancholic works, such after funeral (1876–1880, royal museums of fine arts of belgium), express in gloomy atmosphere poverty of peasants , submissiveness land. works of period show subjects allowed verstraete give free rein urge poetic dreaminess , sentimentality.

to vigil

after verstraete started working in zeeland in netherlands , @ coast during period 1886 1890, work lost earlier gloominess. rather evening or winter scenes or impoverished figures, painted landscapes , figures in clear palette, in full sunlight. totally different atmosphere extent reflects differences between campine , zeeland landscapes. later work of verstraete abandoned sentimental touch , gave more objective, neutral depictions of of subjects treated earlier. shown in works such vigil (1889–1890, royal museum of fine arts antwerp). composition depicts male , female peasants walking towards farmhouse pray has died there. dimensions of painting particularly large: 172 cm high , 294 cm wide. subject matter of verstraete changed , started treating more prosaic subjects such ship hauler, peasant couple near barrier of barnyard , gardener crouching near flower pots.