Lot n° 68
Estimation :
150 - 200
EUR
Result without fees
Result
: 160EUR
SMITS, Jacob or Jakob (1855-1928), born Dutch,... - Lot 68 - Les ventes Damien Voglaire SRL
SMITS, Jacob or Jakob (1855-1928), born Dutch, he obtained Belgian nationality in 1902. Jacob Smits was a solitary painter, on the fringe of any movement. He creates a kind of pre-expressionist symbolism where light takes on an inordinate importance and to which he attaches an almost mystical significance. 4 letters, 2 letter-cards and 1 postcard autographs addressed to George CRETEN (1887-1966): 1. 29.10.1919, long letter of 3 pages in-12. Smits tells his return: "the return was particularly painful, fortunately - I found in Brussels a station master of Moll, which reserved a compartment almost for us alone - (a colonel who went to Berverloo shared our compartment). One can see that the little ones remember some of their services during the war. "Later he talks about the painting he sold to the Senate and which he wants to rework and he also talks about a watercolour of his interlocutor. 2. 28.11.1919 (postmark?), long letter of 2 pages in-4: "I work like a young man from morning to evening. For here, the most beautiful in winter are the tormented skies and the snow, when it is gray and black, that [has] also its charm, but still, I prefer the clarity, the sun, the color. "He also talks about the elections (!): "beware of bargaining - beware of the union of liberals and calotins! I fear this compromise. It is time 1° to create professional schools 2° to never deal with Art in these professional schools 3° to abolish the art academies 4° to abolish the Prix de Rome 5° to deal with artists who have proven something in half a century we will see a small result ". Etc. 3. 03.12.1919, letter of one page in-4, where it is question of the change of the frame of the painting intended for the Senate, "these frames out of stone cardboard ornamented stupidly, I do not want them any more. ...] first because it is ugly and then because it is expensive. The painting will be in the Senate on Monday. "4. 17.12.1919, postcard: "My wife and I share your grief about the accident of which your charming wife is a victim, it is necessary above all to take care of this wound with the greatest circumspection and to have the dog examined". 5. 22.12.1919, letter-card. Starts with news of his wife and ends with the words: "I have the spleen". In between: 'The Queen wished to see a collection of my work put together, at first there was talk of coming here, but I declined the responsibility of a 2 ½ car journey over bad roads in winter. S.M. then expressed a desire to see an exhibition for Her alone in one of the rooms of the Royal Museum in Brussels. "Etc.- 6. 29.03.1920, 4 pages in-12. Long letter of complaints and discouragements following the mail received from Creten who should hardly be comforted: "what should I say, what can I do do you think I am rewarded? Do you think I don't have to struggle like a 30 year old man - so to "excuse" it they say oh Jakob Smits he's tough, he's a rock, he can work harder than anyone else, and there you go. The public, never count on the public, only count on a few penniless friends who will do the impossible; never count on the dedication of amateurs. Sick, discouraged, at your age I sold everything I had that was more or less drinkable, for a few francs and that seems strange - and contradictory, but my opinion is sell, at whatever price - take the canvas, the colours, the frames, get rid of everything - and start working, in a room empty of any work sell it any way you can. These lines must not have raised Creten's spirits much! Envelope preserved.- 7. 20.11.1920, letter-card. Talks about an exhibition which will take place during the Olympic Games in Antwerp. The Olympic Games of 1920, officially named Games of the VIIth Olympiad, are the sixth edition of the modern Olympic Games. They were held in Antwerp from April 23 to September 12, 1920] / Set of 7 pieces.
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