Victor Delhez
Encyclopedia
Victor Delhez, best known for his engravings, was born in Antwerp, Belgium
, and died in Argentina
.
Delhez was one of seven children. He studied at Antwerp's Royal Academy of Fine Arts from 1916-1918 and at the University of Leuven from 1918-1923, graduating as an agronomist with chemistry as his primary subject.
Delhez began exhibiting caricatures and surrealist work while in college. Taking up a role as manager of his family's car company, he continued his artistic interests, publishing a series of prints in 1925.
In 1925, Delhez's parents died in a road accident, and he subsequently moved to Argentina, working as a draughtsman and architect, and contractor, in Buenos Aires
from 1926-1933. He then moved to Bolivia
, before moving back to Argentina in 1940. He settled in Chacras de Coria and took a post as professor at the Academy of Fine Arts, National University of Cuyo.
While in Bolivia, Delhez produced a set of forty illustrations for the Gospels, and twenty-one for Lord Dunsany's "A Dreamer's Tales", while in correspondence with the author.
The sculptor Lorenzo Domínguez
made a marble image of Delhez in the early 1940's.
Delhez became better known from the 1930's, with what is considered to be his best work beginning during his time in Bolivia. Later themes included self-portraits, other parts of the Bible, notably the Book of Apocalypse, Dostoevsky and architecture. He was exhibited in cities such as Brussels (his sisters arranging a show of his "A Dreamer's Tales" works), Antwerp (Plantin-Moretus), the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Smithsonian. Victor Delhez tended to produce short runs from his blocks, which has left some of his work scarce in original form.
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...
, and died in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
.
Delhez was one of seven children. He studied at Antwerp's Royal Academy of Fine Arts from 1916-1918 and at the University of Leuven from 1918-1923, graduating as an agronomist with chemistry as his primary subject.
Delhez began exhibiting caricatures and surrealist work while in college. Taking up a role as manager of his family's car company, he continued his artistic interests, publishing a series of prints in 1925.
In 1925, Delhez's parents died in a road accident, and he subsequently moved to Argentina, working as a draughtsman and architect, and contractor, in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
from 1926-1933. He then moved to Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
, before moving back to Argentina in 1940. He settled in Chacras de Coria and took a post as professor at the Academy of Fine Arts, National University of Cuyo.
While in Bolivia, Delhez produced a set of forty illustrations for the Gospels, and twenty-one for Lord Dunsany's "A Dreamer's Tales", while in correspondence with the author.
The sculptor Lorenzo Domínguez
Lorenzo Domínguez
Lorenzo Domínguez was a prolific Latin American sculptor whose art is a deliberate and personal synthesis of pre-Columbian and Rapa Nui aesthetics with a European artistic formation....
made a marble image of Delhez in the early 1940's.
Delhez became better known from the 1930's, with what is considered to be his best work beginning during his time in Bolivia. Later themes included self-portraits, other parts of the Bible, notably the Book of Apocalypse, Dostoevsky and architecture. He was exhibited in cities such as Brussels (his sisters arranging a show of his "A Dreamer's Tales" works), Antwerp (Plantin-Moretus), the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Smithsonian. Victor Delhez tended to produce short runs from his blocks, which has left some of his work scarce in original form.
External links
- William P. Carl Fine Prints, acting for the artist's Estate: http://www.williampcarlfineprints.com/delhez.php, at 30 March 2007
- Lorenzo Dominguez, marble head of Victor Delhez, 1940 http://www.lorenzodominguez.com/CATALOGO/HTMLS/P16.HTM
Other references
- Buenos Aires, Argentina: Editorial Losada; 1938; Diez de Medina, Fernando; El arte nocturno de Victor Delhez