Floris Jespers
Encyclopedia
Floris Jespers was a Belgian
Avant-garde
painter.
After his graduation from the Antwerp Academy of Fine Arts, he hooked up with the poet Paul Van Ostaijen
and joined the Antwerp avant-garde movement of the 1920s. He contributed to the publications Ça Ira
, Le Centaure and Sélection and befriended Jean Metzinger
and Albert Gleizes
when they published Du Cubisme. In 1921 he had an exhibition abroad for the first time (the exhibition of the Dutch artistic group De Branding with Kurt Schwitters
and Fokko Mees). In 1925 he became a member of Contemporary Art (Kunst van Heden).
He travelled to Belgian Congo
for the first time in 1951. He stayed in the city of Kamina
where his son Mark worked as a doctor. The journey was a revelation for him. He translated his impressions of African women into colorful fresco
es. The African paintings of Jespers are not genre scenes but they present a greater vision of Africa. From the mysterious gazes and the faces of the Swimmers painted in Ostend
in 1927 and the Congolese women of the fifties the same idealised vision of the untouchable and enigmatic African woman emerges.
He also used the verre églomisé
technique.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
Avant-garde
Avant-garde
Avant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics....
painter.
After his graduation from the Antwerp Academy of Fine Arts, he hooked up with the poet Paul Van Ostaijen
Paul van Ostaijen
Paul van Ostaijen was a Flemish poet and writer.Van Ostaijen was born in Antwerp. His nickname was Mister 1830, because of his habit of walking along the streets of Antwerp clothed as a dandy from that year....
and joined the Antwerp avant-garde movement of the 1920s. He contributed to the publications Ça Ira
Ça Ira (review)
Ça ira was the Belgian monthly magazine that featured avant-garde art, literature and politics. It was founded by a group of young artists, who came out of the smoking war-wrecked world of 1919 with a new élan. The title Ça ira comes from a song of the French Revolution...
, Le Centaure and Sélection and befriended Jean Metzinger
Jean Metzinger
Jean Metzinger was a French painter.Metzinger was born in Nantes, France. Initially he was influenced by Fauvism and Impressionism, but from 1908 he was associated with Cubism. Metzinger was a member of the Section d'Or group of artists...
and Albert Gleizes
Albert Gleizes
Albert Gleizes , was a French painter. Born Albert Léon Gleizes and raised in Paris, he was the son of a fabric designer who ran a large industrial design workshop...
when they published Du Cubisme. In 1921 he had an exhibition abroad for the first time (the exhibition of the Dutch artistic group De Branding with Kurt Schwitters
Kurt Schwitters
Kurt Hermann Eduard Karl Julius Schwitters was a German painter who was born in Hanover, Germany. Schwitters worked in several genres and media, including Dada, Constructivism, Surrealism, poetry, sound, painting, sculpture, graphic design, typography and what came to be known as...
and Fokko Mees). In 1925 he became a member of Contemporary Art (Kunst van Heden).
He travelled to Belgian Congo
Belgian Congo
The Belgian Congo was the formal title of present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo between King Leopold II's formal relinquishment of his personal control over the state to Belgium on 15 November 1908, and Congolese independence on 30 June 1960.-Congo Free State, 1884–1908:Until the latter...
for the first time in 1951. He stayed in the city of Kamina
Kamina
Kamina is a city in Katanga Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is located at around . It is the provincial capital.- Transport :...
where his son Mark worked as a doctor. The journey was a revelation for him. He translated his impressions of African women into colorful fresco
Fresco
Fresco is any of several related mural painting types, executed on plaster on walls or ceilings. The word fresco comes from the Greek word affresca which derives from the Latin word for "fresh". Frescoes first developed in the ancient world and continued to be popular through the Renaissance...
es. The African paintings of Jespers are not genre scenes but they present a greater vision of Africa. From the mysterious gazes and the faces of the Swimmers painted in Ostend
Ostend
Ostend is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. It comprises the boroughs of Mariakerke , Stene and Zandvoorde, and the city of Ostend proper – the largest on the Belgian coast....
in 1927 and the Congolese women of the fifties the same idealised vision of the untouchable and enigmatic African woman emerges.
He also used the verre églomisé
Verre églomisé
Verre églomisé, from the French term meaning glass gilded, is a process in which the back side of glass is gilded with gold or metal leaf.In one method, the metal is adhered using a gelatin adhesive, which results in a mirror-like, reflective finish in which designs are then engraved. The metal...
technique.