Modest Huysartist • painterOlsene (België) 1874-1932 Zulte (België)

The Flemish Impressionist and Luminist Modest Huys began working in his father's painting and decoration business at a young age and took classes at the Ghent Industrial School. Around 1891, he came into contact with Emil Claus, who encouraged him to become a professional painter. In 1900, Huys enrolled at the Antwerp Academy of Fine Arts, where he was taught by Eugène Joors and Frans Van Leemputten. Huys was part of the Post-Impressionist movement centered around Claus and was also active within the Luminist society Vie et Lumière, where he exhibited alongside Emile Claus and James Ensor, among others. From his first exhibition in 1902, he achieved success with his work in Ghent and the surrounding area, but also outside Belgium. In 1905, he established his name with his Luminist work at the Liège World Exhibition. After participating in the Venice Biennale in 1909, the Carnegie Institute in Pittsburgh invited him to the institute's annual exhibitions, which traveled throughout the United States. The Biennale also opened the doors to the Royal Scottish Academy. Huys preferred painting nature and the people who lived along the river Leie; flax workers and fairgoers were among his favorite themes. In addition, he also created portraits. Although Modest Huys was not a pupil of Claus, even though he was initially strongly influenced by him, he is nevertheless considered part of Claus's circle and also of the artists' group of Sint-Martens-Latem. During the Interwar period, Huys increasingly found his own style. Accentuated margins, blurred backgrounds, and colours that shifted from soft to dark, applied to the canvas in harsh contrasts, much like the Expressionist Permeke did.