Rachel Baes
Encyclopedia
Rachel Baes was a Belgian
surrealist painter
. The growth of the women's movement in the late 20th century led to renewed interest in women artists and brought greater appreciation of her work. In 2002 the Koninklijk Museum in Antwerp featured Baes and Jane Graverol in an exhibition: voor Schone Kunsten.
to the landscape painter and portraitist Émile Baes and his wife, Rachel Baes was encouraged in her artistic efforts from an early age, although she never studied art formally.
. There she was one of the members of the Surrealist group around René Magritte
. She came to know André Breton
, Jean Cocteau
, Max Ernst
, Georges Bataille
, Irène Hamoir
, and Paul Éluard
.
Between 1936 and 1940, Baes had an affair with Joris Van Severen
, leader of the extreme rightist Verdinaso
party in Belgium. In 1940 Van Severen was killed by "friendly fire" from French troops and the incident clouded his reputation.
Baes published a biography of Van Severen—Joris Van Severen, une âme—in 1965.
After 1961, Baes retired from public life and lived alone in Bruges
. She was buried at Abbeville
, alongside Van Severen.
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...
surrealist painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
. The growth of the women's movement in the late 20th century led to renewed interest in women artists and brought greater appreciation of her work. In 2002 the Koninklijk Museum in Antwerp featured Baes and Jane Graverol in an exhibition: voor Schone Kunsten.
Early life and education
Born in 1912 in BrusselsBrussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
to the landscape painter and portraitist Émile Baes and his wife, Rachel Baes was encouraged in her artistic efforts from an early age, although she never studied art formally.
Career
In 1929, at age 17, Baes achieved her first recognition as an artist when she exhibited works at the Salon des Indépendants in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. There she was one of the members of the Surrealist group around René Magritte
René Magritte
René François Ghislain Magritte[p] was a Belgian surrealist artist. He became well known for a number of witty and thought-provoking images...
. She came to know André Breton
André Breton
André Breton was a French writer and poet. He is known best as the founder of Surrealism. His writings include the first Surrealist Manifesto of 1924, in which he defined surrealism as "pure psychic automatism"....
, Jean Cocteau
Jean Cocteau
Jean Maurice Eugène Clément Cocteau was a French poet, novelist, dramatist, designer, playwright, artist and filmmaker. His circle of associates, friends and lovers included Kenneth Anger, Pablo Picasso, Jean Hugo, Jean Marais, Henri Bernstein, Marlene Dietrich, Coco Chanel, Erik Satie, María...
, Max Ernst
Max Ernst
Max Ernst was a German painter, sculptor, graphic artist, and poet. A prolific artist, Ernst was one of the primary pioneers of the Dada movement and Surrealism.-Early life:...
, Georges Bataille
Georges Bataille
Georges Bataille was a French writer. His multifaceted work is linked to the domains of literature, anthropology, philosophy, economy, sociology and history of art...
, Irène Hamoir
Irène Hamoir
Irène Hamoir was a Belgian novelist and poet, the leading female member of the Belgian surrealist movement. Her poetry was published under the pen name Irine, and she appeared as Lorrie in the writings of her husband, Louis Scutenaire, and the works of René Magritte.Born in Saint-Gilles, Belgium...
, and Paul Éluard
Paul Éluard
Paul Éluard, born Eugène Émile Paul Grindel , was a French poet who was one of the founders of the surrealist movement.-Biography:...
.
Between 1936 and 1940, Baes had an affair with Joris Van Severen
Joris Van Severen
Joris Van Severen was a Belgian nationalist politician, ideologist and leader of the national-solidarist Verdinaso.-Early years:...
, leader of the extreme rightist Verdinaso
Verdinaso
The Verdinaso was an authoritarian and fascist-inspired political party in Belgium and the Netherlands during the 1930s...
party in Belgium. In 1940 Van Severen was killed by "friendly fire" from French troops and the incident clouded his reputation.
Baes published a biography of Van Severen—Joris Van Severen, une âme—in 1965.
After 1961, Baes retired from public life and lived alone in Bruges
Bruges
Bruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country....
. She was buried at Abbeville
Abbeville
Abbeville is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Location:Abbeville is located on the Somme River, from its modern mouth in the English Channel, and northwest of Amiens...
, alongside Van Severen.