CRAHAY, Albert
Facts about this piece
BELGIAN 1881-1914
A COTTAGE GARDEN
OIL ON CANVAS, SIGNED
26
Excellent
Author Bio
Albert Crahay would die at the age of 33 so produced a small body of work during his short life. He was born in Antwerp in 1881 and as with most artistically blessed children of his day was enrolled at the Academy of Antwerp. His family was friends with the artist Frans Hens and it was Hens that encouraged the young Albert to pursue an artistic vocation. Graduating around 1900 he moved to the coastal town of Nieuport and commenced painting the sea, sand dunes and fisherman that he found there. In 1907 he joined the art group known as Kunst Van Heden and became a regular exhibitor at their annual shows. His work, as a result of this exposure, began to gain the attention of the art critics of the day one of whom wrote ‘Son coloris est riche et tempere, aristocratique et plein de distinction, tout comme sa personnalite attachante’ (His colors are rich and temperate and full of aristocratic distinction, as is his engaging personality).Other works by Crahay can be seen at the Museum of Fine Art in Antwerp.