A visual treat featuring 33 well-preserved oil on canvas paintings by the late Belgian artist Henri Van Craeynest (1913-2001) was held recently at the Science Wing of Foundation Preparatory Academy. The event was organized by the Department of Fine Arts of Foundation University through its Foundation University Fine Arts Students Association (FUFASA).
As Sandra Quan, program chair, contends, it was a one-of-a-kind art event as the paintings were lent generously by a private collector based in Negros Oriental. “Proceeds from the exhibit will be used to support the Fine Arts Studio Fund to help provide paint, brushes, paper, canvas, and workshop materials essential for student practice and creative growth,” Quan informed. She added: “It will also be used to maintain and improve shared art spaces, as well as to support student projects, workshops, and experiential learning activities.”
The art works were carefully cleaned and handled by Fine Arts junior students enrolled in Art Restoration, while the exhibition was organized under an Art Management course, thus, giving the students first-hand experience with conservation techniques and art work care.
According to Kevin Cornelia, the displays showcased the process behind caring for and looking at historical works of art, aside from their artistic value. It followed close on the heels of the successful collaboration on the occasion of Galleries and Museums month.
In attendance was the grandson of the painter, Tom Vanneste, who was able to authenticate and discuss the works that span nearly a century, with the oldest painting dating as far back as 1932. The students prepared a component to the exhibition design. Partners and prominent figures in the local art and culture scene likewise attended and supported the silentauction.
Born in Nieuwpoort, West Flanders, Van Craeynest spent his life painting cityscapes, coastal views, and scenes of rural Belgian life. His works captured the quiet atmosphere of Flemish streets, harbors, and open landscapes, often reflecting nostalgia and regional character. From the 1930s to the early 1990s, he produced an extensive body of work depicting cityscapes, particularly of Ghent, Bruges, Ostend, and Nieuwpoort, along with rural landscapes, dunes, seascapes, and scenes of daily farm life throughout the Westhoek region.
Deeply connected to maritime culture, he often portrayed the world of fishermen and coastal communities. In addition to these landscapes and coastal scenes, Van Craeynest created remarkable floral still lives and portraits. Some of his works also pain offer rare glimpses of life in France in 1967.
Working primarily with a palette knife, he was celebrated as a colorist par excellence, known for his vibrant tones and rich textures. A new exhibition of his work is currently being prepared by the City of Nieuwpoort scheduled in March this year. His paintings are held in various municipal collections across both West and East Flanders.
Interestingly, the original paintings were mounted side by side with how a particular locality appears today as researched by the students. One eye-catching painting is “Floraien,” a flower exhibition in Ghent, which is oil on linen. As the students curated and analyzed it, “It depicts a beautifully organized garden pathway framed by lush, arching trellises that repeat in semi-circular patterns, creating symmetry and rhythm.
The composition directs the viewer’s eye toward its focal point – two small figures walking hand in hand at the end of the path, illuminated by soft sunlight. The curved lines of the arches guide the gaze toward the bright opening, while the horizontal path and vertical plants provide balance and structure. A gardener and wheelbarrow in the foreground add a sense of realism and harmony between humans and nature. The rounded organic shapes of the flowers and figures contrast with the geometric arches, blending natural irregularity with order.
The artist uses a predominantly green palette with touches of pink, red, and yellow to create a lively yet calming atmosphere. The transition from cool, shaded greens to warm, sunlit tones enhances depth and light, while the muted colors of the gardener’s clothing and tools subtly blend the human presence into the scene’s tranquil beauty.”
If you wish to inquire about the availability of some paintings, you may visit the Fine Arts Department or visit its Facebook page. | NWI
