Frans Minnaert – Painting “Dialoog”, Belgian Modern Art
ART FLAGEY presents the painting “Dialoog” by Frans Minnaert, a key figure of Belgian modernism.
The reduced composition which shows two stylized human figures set against a dark, abstract background, conveys intense psychological depth.
On the right stands a nude woman, rendered in soft whites and greys. Expressive brushstrokes highlight light and shadow, while her face—partly veiled in darkness—suggests inner conflict or unspoken emotions.
To the left, a second figure—perhaps an older man—appears in darker tones, more ghostlike than corporeal. The two do not meet eyes: their “dialogue” seems silent, internal, almost spiritual.
The pictorial space is undefined, focused on structure and symbolic effect. Thick layers of paint and strong contrasts build emotional tension and invite interpretation. A powerful work from Minnaert’s symbolic visual language.
About the artist:
Frans Minnaert – Belgian Neo-Expressionist between Humanity and Nature
Frans Minnaert (4.12.1929 Idegem - 18.1.2011 Aalst) was a Belgian painter, draftsman, and printmaker. He studied at the art academies of Aalst and Brussels between 1950 and 1958 and later served as director of the Higher State School of Fine Arts in Anderlecht from 1972 to 1995.
Minnaert participated in numerous international exhibitions, including the 1974 Venice Biennale, where he presented his monumental polyptych “Genesis.”
His early work was influenced by Flemish Expressionism, characterized by a dark palette. Over time, Minnaert developed a distinctive neo-expressionist style. He painted wild, symbolic landscapes inhabited by isolated human figures—melancholic, emotional, and deeply connected to nature.
From the 1990s onward, the female figure became central to his visual language. His paintings are known for their emotional depth and poetic symbolism, bridging myth, the human condition, and nature.
Major works by Minnaert can be seen in the Saint-Guidon metro station in Brussels and in various public collections, including those of the Belgian state.
