Albert Servaes – Winter landscape, ink wash and gouache, signed and dated 1930

Albert Servaes – Winter landscape with farmstead under snow, 1930

A quiet, almost monochrome winter landscape in washed Indian ink, heightened with white gouache. Bare trees, pollard willows, low fences and a farmstead with a roof full of snow under a grey sky. Signed twice and dated ‘a. Servaes 1930’ at lower right (photo 4). The sheet was in a mount that covered the lower, larger signature; it only came to light when we removed the mount. This is why the smaller signature was later added above it, so that it remained visible within the mount.

About the artist

Albert Servaes (Ghent 1883 – Lucerne 1966) was one of the pioneers and best-known names of Flemish Expressionism and worked for a long time in Sint-Martens-Latem. His work hangs in, among others, the KMSKA in Antwerp and the Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens in Deurle. Alongside his well-known religious work, he painted and drew bare, hushed snow landscapes with black trees and angular farmhouses. He often signed in small letters ‘a.servaes’ with the year, as on this sheet. Similar subjects and signatures are known from his paintings of the same period.

Why we chose this piece

With very few means – black, grey and white – this sheet evokes the silence of a Flemish winter. The farmstead, the pollarded trees and the fencing have that typical Latem simplicity and gravity.

Style and interior

The black, white and grey tonality is perfect for a minimalist, Japandi or wabi-sabi interior, but also for a classic setting with antique furniture. Lovely in a simple black or wooden frame with a generous mount. Supplied unframed.

Dimensions: 38 × 28.5 cm
Artist: Albert Servaes (1883–1966), signed
Technique: washed ink, heightened with white gouache, on paper
Signature: lower right ‘a. Servaes 1930’ (twice)
Period: 1930
Origin: Belgium (Flanders)
Condition: Good. The paper is lightly toned, with a few small spots and lightly worn edges (photo 1). No tears visible.

Price:
€ 750

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