Landscape painting by Belgian artist Maurice Blieck.
This oil painting by Maurice Blieck depicts a picturesque view of a coastal town overlooking the sea and a striking white cliff. At the center of the composition is a church surrounded by a sea of houses with typical red roofs. The foreground is occupied by a winding path through green fields. The composition combines geometric clarity with vibrant color schemes – typical of Blieck's expressive Late Impressionism.
The painting is undated, but the color palette, style, and brushwork technique can be assigned to Late Impressionism or Post-Impressionism, as it was typical around 1905–1920. Given Maurice Blieck's death in 1922, the painting can realistically be dated to approximately 1910–1920.
The original frame, in elaborate woodwork, also speaks to this period. It features a characteristic egg-and-dagger relief (or "oeil-de-perdrix") and a classic combination of gilded moldings and black contrasting inner panels.
Typical of the late Historicist and early Art Nouveau periods, this frame emphasizes the depth of the image and lends the painting a prestigious appearance. Its craftsmanship and original condition make it a valuable, authentic companion to the painting.
About the artist:
Maurice Blieck (1876 - 1922)
Maurice Blieck was a Belgian painter known for his expressive landscapes and cityscapes. He studied at the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels.
During the First World War, he lived in Paris and London, where he developed his own color palette with delicate light effects. He later settled in Rouge-Cloître near Brussels.
Throughout his career, Blieck devoted himself primarily to depicting Belgian nature and urban life, distinguished by his precise technique and sensitivity to light and color. His works often depict tranquil landscapes, village scenes, and busy streets, reflecting a deep connection to his homeland.
Maurice Blieck was an active member of the Belgian artist group Le Sillon, founded in Brussels in 1893. This movement advocated for a more humane, accessible art – free from academic constraints. As part of the Le Sillon movement, Blieck contributed to the modernization of Belgian painting, combining artistic expression with social engagement.
Blieck was also a representative of Belgian Luminism—a style strongly influenced by French Impressionism. His works demonstrate a special ability to capture natural light atmospherically, particularly in his coastal and urban landscapes.
Today, paintings by Maurice Blieck bear witness to the pre-World War I art scene and are considered sought-after collector's items of early modernism in Belgium.
Literature: Dictionnaire des peintres belges; Ulrich Thieme Allgemeines Lexikon der Bildenden Künstler von der Antike bis zur Gegenwart.
