Husb and I visited the Frank Brangwyn museum in Bruges today. Sir Frank has long been an artist hero of mine but despite massive fame in his lifetime he isn’t very fashionable now. It’s time he was noticed again. He was one of the founder members of the Vienna Secession; his work in the early 20th century shows the mutual influences of Schiele and Klimt. He died in 1967 aged almost 90, having produced a huge body of work; painting, drawing, etching, lithography, woodcuts, even applied arts like furniture design. I’ve known his work since childhood because Swansea hosts the magnificent Empire Panels in the Brangwyn Hall. If you’re in the city, check them out.
I was particularly taken with a large tempera painting of blind beggars from the 1920s and I did this study of the head and hands of one of the figures. His use of strong linework is sublime and easily up to the standard of his fellow Secessionists. I used some graphite sticks that I coincidentally bought at the Vienna Secession when I was there last summer.
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Love the placement of face and hands, the space between them. So expressive.
He’s an extraordinary artist, sadly largely unrecognised these days.
No idea who Brangwyn Hall was named after and will look at it afresh and try to see the panels. Might have time tomorrow while seeing friends on Kilvey Hill (rights of way problems)
Oh do if you can. They are magnificent and some of his drawings are in the corridors around the Guildhall too. Good luck on the hill.
I haven’t heard of Frank Brangwyn before, someone to follow up on. I love the bits of the hands in your sketch, they are so expressive. And I hear it is your birthday (tomorrow maybe?) so I hope you have a wonderful one!
Thank you. I’m having a wonderful birthday in Bruges 😀
Lots of hot chocolate and moules frites! I love the over-the-topness of Bruges.
I’m stuffed with frites today. Can’t move 😯
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Thanks for sharing 🙂