Edgard Pierre Jozef Farasyn (also spelled Farasijn; 14 August 1858, in

Antwerp Antwerp (; nl, Antwerpen ; french: Anvers ; es, Amberes) is the largest city in Belgium by area at and the capital of Antwerp Province in the Flemish Region. With a population of 520,504,

– 22 March 1938, in Antwerp) was a Belgian painter,

watercolorist Watercolor (American English) or watercolour (British English; see spelling differences), also ''aquarelle'' (; from Italian diminutive of Latin ''aqua'' "water"), is a painting method”Watercolor may be as old as art itself, going back to t ...

, engraver and etcher who specialized in seascapes, landscapes,

genre Genre () is any form or type of communication in any mode (written, spoken, digital, artistic, etc.) with socially-agreed-upon conventions developed over time. In popular usage, it normally describes a category of literature, music, or other for ...

scenes and

interior portrait The interior portrait (portrait d'intérieur) or, in German, Zimmerbild (room picture), is a pictorial genre that appeared in Europe near the end of the 17th century and enjoyed a great vogue in the second half of the 19th century. It involves a c ...

s. In his later life, he became interested in depicting fishermen.

Life and work

He received his artistic training at the

Royal Academy of Fine Arts (Antwerp) The Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp ( nl, Koninklijke Academie voor Schone Kunsten van Antwerpen) is an art academy located in Antwerp, Belgium. It is one of the oldest of its kind in Europe. It was founded in 1663 by David Teniers the Younger, ...

, where he studied under

Nicaise de Keyser Nicaise de Keyser (alternative first names: Nicaas, Nikaas of Nicasius; 26 August 1813, Zandvliet – 17 July 1887, Antwerp) was a Belgian painter of mainly history paintings and portraits who was one of the key figures in the Belgian Romantic- ...

. In 1885, he became a teacher at the Academy. Six years later, he was a founding member of the secessionist group ''De XIII'' and was also active in ''Weest U Zelve'' (roughly, ''Be Yourself''), a group devoted to promoting

Flemish Flemish (''Vlaams'') is a Low Franconian dialect cluster of the Dutch language. It is sometimes referred to as Flemish Dutch (), Belgian Dutch ( ), or Southern Dutch (). Flemish is native to Flanders, a historical region in northern Belgium; ...

art. He initially focused on painting children, but switched to

plein air ''En plein air'' (; French for 'outdoors'), or ''plein air'' painting, is the act of painting outdoors. This method contrasts with studio painting or academic rules that might create a predetermined look. The theory of 'En plein air' painting ...

painting after becoming a teacher. He mostly worked in and around Antwerp, but also went to Mol and the Kempen region and occasionally ventured into Zeeland. His early works are mostly done in dark, sombre colors, but his canvas lightened considerably after he visited Koksijde and decided to portray the lives of the fishermen and their families. He also practiced mural painting. Of special note is the painting ''Optocht van de rederijkerskamer "De Violieren" in 1539'' (Procession of the Chamber of Rhetoric " The Violieren" in 1539), in the staircase hallway of the

Antwerp Town Hall The City Hall (Dutch: ) of Antwerp, Belgium, stands on the western side of Antwerp's Grote Markt ("Great Market Square"). Erected between 1561 and 1565 after designs made by Cornelis Floris de Vriendt and several other architects and artists, th ...

, which he executed in 1899 at the invitation of

Frans Van Kuyck Frans Pieter Lodewijk van Kuyck (9 June 1852, Antwerp - 31 May 1915, Antwerp) was a Belgian painter and graphic artist. He is also known for helping to establish Mother's Day in Belgium. Life and career He came from a family of artists. His f ...

; part of a larger project of historical murals which also included works by Piet Verhaert,

Edouard de Jans Edouard de Jans (16 April 1855, in Sint-Andries – 11 July 1919, in Antwerp) was a Flemish portrait and genre painter. Biography His father was a farmer and miller. It is said that he first became interested in art when he saw a display in ...

, Karel Boom and Henri Houben.Jaarboek van de Koninklijke Belgische Academie 1901, p. 479
/ref> He gave many exhibitions, winning awards at the Sydney International Exhibition (1879) and the

Brussels International (1897) The Brussels International Exposition (french: Exposition Internationale de Bruxelles, nl, Wereldtentoonstelling te Brussel) of 1897 was a world's fair held in Brussels, Belgium, from 10 May 1897 through 8 November 1897. There were 27 partici ...

. He retired from teaching in 1924.

References

External links

ArtNet: Seven pages of paintings by Farasyn

Commentary on Farasyn in the ''Quarterly Illustrator'', Vol.2
@ Google Books {{DEFAULTSORT:Farasyn, Edgard 1858 births 1938 deaths 19th-century Belgian painters Belgian male painters 19th-century Belgian male artists 20th-century Belgian painters Academic staff of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts (Antwerp) Royal Academy of Fine Arts (Antwerp) alumni 20th-century Belgian male artists

Life and work

References

Further reading

External links