EUGENE VAN MIERLO

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Belgian School, 1880-1972

Oil on Canvas, Signed & Dated 1920

45" x52.5" framed

Eugène Van Mierlo was born in Turnhout, Belgium on April 11, 1880. He was recognized as a highly regarded Post-Impressionist painter with close association to the Luminist and Fauvist movements.  Eugenius Victor Josephus Van Mierlo, by his Christian name, was the son of Joanna Klerx and Thomas Franciscus Van Mierlo, both from Turnhout in the Antwerp region . His father was already an established artist and painter.

Eugène Van Mierlo studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp and was influenced by the works of James Ensor and Léon Spilliaert. He exhibited his paintings for the first time in 1901 at the Royal Society of Fine Arts in Brussels. He mainly painted still lifes, landscapes, and portraits. His style is characterized by a bold use of color, particularly in his still lifes. He was also influenced by the Fauvist movement, which is characterized by the use of bright, pure colors.

First established in Schaerbeek (283, chaussée de Haecht 4 ), he moved to Watermael-Boitsfort in 1926, then, successively, near the Church of Saint-Josse and Place Van Meenen in Saint-Gilles . Eugène Van Mierlo is best known for his countryside landscapes, views of farms, still lifes and interiors, and views of churches. For the press of his time, Van Mierlo is: “a luminist. The symphony of sun and freshness is a real party in its “Printemps” and “Pommier”. His “Immortelles” are painted on canvas in pronounced contrasts of warm colours.

Eugène Van Mierlo appeared three times in the preparatory competition for the Prix de Rome, in 1904, 1907, and 1910. In 1907, he took part in the “Exposition Générale des Beaux-Arts” in Brussels. (See Catalogue below). In 1917 he exhibited with the Brussels artistic circle Le Lierre (founded in 1902, member ao: Marten Melsen ) at the Aeolian Gallery (nl) in Brussels.

Over the years, Van Mierlo has enjoyed much success in Belgium and abroad. His works have been exhibited in galleries and museums in Belgium, France, Italy, and the United States. Van Mierlo's still lifes are particularly appreciated for their elegant composition and use of vivid colors.  Van Mierlo also painted landscapes, which are characterized by a subtle use of color and a serene atmosphere. His portraits, on the other hand, are realistic and accurately capture the physical characteristics of his subjects.

Eugène Van Mierlo was an important artist on the Belgian art scene at the beginning of the 20th century. His bold and colorful style has influenced many Belgian and foreign artists. His contribution to Belgian art was eventually recognized by the Belgian government, which awarded him the ‘Order of the Crown’.