Frans Hens - Antwerpen aan de Schelde -ets- - Sold

Beautiful work by the Belgian etcher Frans Hens in very good condition. Depiction of the port of Antwerp at the beginning of the 30th century.
Frans Hens was a Belgian artist who was born in Antwerp in 1856 and who died in 1928. He was a painter, draftsman, watercolorist and graphic artist. In 1872 training at the Academy in Antwerp led by J. Jacobs. Traveled to America in 1873 and then went on to further perfect himself at the Academy in Antwerp. Became friends with T. Verstraete. Traveled to the Congo in 1886 and 1887. Painted in collaboration with Eug. Broerman created the Panorama of the Congo for the 1897 Exhibition. He brought back sketches, watercolours, paintings and a collection of plants from his travels. Painted landscapes, but mainly gained fame as a marine painter and preferred to seek his inspiration in the surroundings of the Scheldt. Initially, the influence of T. Verstraete was noticeable. Previously realized melancholic works, especially views in fog, rain or at night. He sensitively reproduced the different nuances in broadly applied, thick masses of paint. In 1894 he published an album with ten etchings inspired by the Scheldt. In 1891 co-founder of the Group De XIII, in 1905 of Kunst van Heden. Was a teacher at the Higher Institute in Antwerp from 1919 to 1923. Work, among others, in the Museums in Antwerp, Brussels, Ghent. Mentioned in BAS I and Two Centuries signatures of Belgian artists. (Piron)