Roger Van de Wouwer (21 July 1933 – 22 October 2005) was a Belgian surrealist painter and illustrator.

Biography

Roger Van de Wouwer (sometimes incorrectly : Roger Van de Wouver) was born on 21 July 1933 in Hoboken (Antwerp). At the age of 16, eager to become a photographer, he attended daytime drawing classes at the

Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp The Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp ( nl, Koninklijke Academie voor Schone Kunsten van Antwerpen) is an art academy located in Antwerp, Belgium. It is one of the oldest of its kind in Europe. It was founded in 1663 by David Teniers the Younge ...

and evening courses at the " Vrije Nijverheids- en Beroepsschool", a school where technicians were trained for the Gevaert factory (now Agfa-Gevaert). He specialised in developing and producing photographic materials. After his military service, during which he had the opportunity to go to the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts of Brussels, he was hired by the

photoengraver Photoengraving is a process that uses a light-sensitive photoresist applied to the surface to be engraved to create a mask that protects some areas during a subsequent operation which etches, dissolves, or otherwise removes some or all of the mate ...

De Schutter. In 1955 he was hired by Gevaert, where he stayed until his retirement. There he met Leo Dohmen, a great disciple of surrealism, who introduced him to Gilbert Senecaut, who in turn introduced him to . These three encounters were critical for the young painter. Roger Van de Wouwer's first solo exhibition took place in 1963 in the Library-Gallery of Henri Mercier in Brussels, where several paintings (''Galathée, L'incorruptible'') created a scandal and led to legal complaints. Tom Gutt reacted by writing a pamphlet in which he accurately described Roger Van de Wouwer's creative mind. He wrote: The pamphlet gathered about fifty signatures, but was not well received in France, even by the surrealist group, where some considered ''Galathée'' to be an insult to women. Roger Van de Wouwer has often use artistic trends to his advantage, but sometimes preceded them. His picture ''Tableau'' reproduces the definition of the word “tableau” (painting) as it is found in the dictionary, long before conceptual art made it common practice. This is only one of the multiple ways he questioned the meaning and function of images. Hence, the work of Roger Van de Wouwer is related to the style of

Marcel Duchamp Henri-Robert-Marcel Duchamp (, , ; 28 July 1887 – 2 October 1968) was a French painter, sculptor, chess player, and writer whose work is associated with Cubism, Dada, and conceptual art. Duchamp is commonly regarded, along with Pablo Picasso ...

and his ''ready-made'' art. However, it also in contradiction with them, namely when he reproduced, with his paintbrush and scrupulous precision, the enlarged picture of an electronic circuit (''La Transmission de la pensée'') or used images with intriguing scientific origins. At the beginning of his career, more than merely seducing the eyes, every painting forced the mind to think in a different way. Later, he painted series, bringing together on the canvas elements in which the distance in meaning intensifies the power of the image: the cycles of combustion engines together with Manneken Pis, erected members combined with various crosses, diagrams of modern physics embedded in alchemical symbols, etc. There are numerous paintings based on «le défi et la révolte» (challenge and rebellion), as recommended by

Paul Nougé Paul Nougé (12 February 1895 – 6 November 1967) was a Belgian poet, founder and theoretician of surrealism in Belgium, sometimes known as the "Belgian Breton". Biography Born of a French father who originated from the Charent region in Fra ...

. One of these paintings can certainly be understood as a manifesto: it depicts a boxing glove coloured as if it were a painter's palette (''La Décantation''). Together with , Van de Wouwer created a series of paintings (''Douaniers sans frontières'') whose attraction lies in the complementarity of the painters, each completing half-paintings started by the other. This project, completed in 1995, was the last important work of Roger Van de Wouwer, who died 22 October 2005.

Solo exhibitions

* 1963: ''Roger van de Wouwer'', Librairie La Proue, Brussels (25 May - 13 June). Text signed Ossip-Lourié. * 1965: ''Roger van de Wouwer'', Cogeime s.a., Brussels (13 May - 24 May). * 1966: ''Roger van de Wouwer'', presentation of some works, gallery Onze Schilders, Ostend (1 Juli entire summer). * 1968: ''Roger van de Wouwer'', Galerie 44, Brussels (2 May - 31 May). Preface by : ''La Main souveraine''. * 1969: ''Roger van de Wouwer'', Galerie GEBO, Antwerp (25 April - 6 May). Preface by

Louis Scutenaire Louis Scutenaire (29 June 1905 – 15 August 1987) was a poet, anarchist, surrealist and civil servant. Born Jean Émile Louis Scutenaire in Ollignies, Belgium, he died in Brussels. Life Louis Scutenaire is chiefly remembered as a central figu ...

: ''Chef d'œuvre''. On this occasion, presentation of ''Il est toujours trop tard 1924 - 1928'' by Louis Scutenaire, illustrated by Roger Van de Wouwer. * 1969: ''Op-o-mobiles'', The Gallery Club, Albert Plage (Knokke) (31 October - 7 January 1970). Prefaced by

: ''Madame, disait Juve, allez rejoindre Fantômas'', and

Jan Cremer Jan Cremer (; born 20 April 1940, Enschede, Netherlands) is a Dutch author, photographer and painter. His best known work is the novel ' ("I, Jan Cremer"; 1964) and the sequel ''Ik, Jan Cremer, tweede boek'' ("I, Jan Cremer, second book"; 1966) ...

: ''Mysterie of Komplot.'' * 1972: ''Roger van de Wouwer, Œuvres récentes'', Galerie Aquarius, Brussels (17 November - 7 December). Texts by Y. Bossut (): ''L'horoscope d'un artisan de la terreur'', Irine (

Irène Hamoir Irène Hamoir (25 July 1906 – 17 May 1994) 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 h ...

): ''Une plante du genre réséda'', L. Scutenaire: ''L'horrible vérité & Jeux faciles'', T. Gutt: ''Le perce-yeux'', M. Thyrion: ''Le retour de Roger Van de Wouwer''. * 1980: ''Roger van de Wouwer'', Galerie La Marée, Brussels (19 April - 29 April). Preface by Tom Gutt. * 1984: ''Roger van de Wouwer'', Galerie La Marée, Brussels (25 February - 10 March). Texts by Jean Wallenborn: ''Un beau sujet'',

Marcel Mariën Marcel Mariën (29 April 1920 – 19 September 1993) was a Belgian surrealist (later Situationist), poet, essayist, photographer, collagist, and filmmaker. Mariën was a pivotal member of the Belgian wing of the Surrealist movement. In addition ...

: ''L'ôtage à l'accent circonflexe'', Irine, Tom Gutt:''La bonne tenue''. * 1986: ''Roger van de Wouwer'', Galerie Isy Brachot, Brussels (10 September - 11 October). Text by Tom Gutt: ''Écrit dans le genre contemporain''. * 1992: ''"roger van de wouwer"'', Antwerp Sailing Club, Antwerp (25 June - 26 July). * 1995: ''Douaniers sans frontières'', exhibition of the works in collaboration with , Scheldestraat, 32, Antwerp (11 March - 25 March). * 1995: ''Le Moment agréable'', exhibition of the works in collaboration with Gilles Brenta, Galerie La Marée, Brussels (1 April - 8 April). * 2016 : ''Retrospectieve - Roger Van de Wouwer'', , Kemzeke (17 April - 30 October 2016). * 2020: ''Roger Van de Wouwer L'incorruptible - De onkreukbare'', , 1160 Brussels (31 January - 15 March).

Collective exhibitions

* 1962: ''Presentation of the Revue Punt 5'', Galerie Guy Dorekens, Antwerp (24 March - 29 March). * 1962: ''Exposition internationale Fantasmagie'', Galerie d'Art Jean Dols, Liège (31 March - 12 April): ''Bérénice'' showed. * 1962: ''Fantasmagie sur le thème d'Uranus (IVe salon international)'', Galerie de la Madeleine, Brussel (van 11/05 tot 23/5): ''Le signe de Mars'' (sic) showed. * 1962: ''Groepstentoonstelling'', Galerie Guy Dorekens, Antwerp (16 June onwards). * 1965: 51e Nationaal Salon voor Schone Kunsten, Ghent. * 1966: ''Le Papier'', Cogeime s.a., Brussels (3 May - 16 May). * 1967: ''Le Papier II'', Cogeime s.a., Brussels (11 April - 24 April). * 1969: ''Introduction au surréalisme en Belgique'', Salle communale, La Louvière (26 April - 11 May). * 1969: ''Surréalisme pour ainsi dire'', La Jeune Parque, Brussels (17 December - 10 January 1970). * 1970: ''Surrealisme'', Galerie GEBO, Antwerp (23 June - 10 July and 3 August - 28 August). * 1977: ''La Contre-bande'', Galerie La Marée, Brussels (25 March - 2 April). * 1978: ''Menu'', Galerie Florence (restaurant-galerie d'art), Brussels (10 June - 31 August). * 1982: ''La Marée se retire'', Galerie La Marée, Brussels (16 January - 23 January). * 1983: ''Goden en idolen'', De Warande, Turnhout (12 March - 10 April). * 1984: ''Art et Sport'', Musée des Beaux-Arts, Mons (23 March - 3 June). * 1986: ''Le Surréalisme en Belgique I'', Galerie Isy Brachot, Paris (16 April - 10 July). * 1986: ''Arte e Alchimia'', Venice Biennale (29 June - 28 September). * 1990: ''Tire la langue: un pays d'irréguliers'', Centre culturel du Botanique, Brussels (26 September - 11 November). * 1991: ''Les Irréguliers du langage'', Musée d'Art Contemporain, Dunkerque (3 May - 10 June). * 1992: ''Woord en Beeld'', MuHKA, Antwerp (27 June - 15 November). * 1992: ''Les irréguliers du langage'', Casa Museo Murillo, Sevilla (24 September - 29 November). * 1992: ''Hommage à Michel Thyrion'', Librairie Crucis, Brussels (20 November - 9 December). * 1993: ''Les irréguliers du langage'', Commissariat aux Relations internationales de la communauté française de Belgique, travelling version with 80 panels with reproductions. * 1995: ''

'', Maison du Spectacle La Bellone, Brussels (14 February - 15 April). * 1995: ''Le Surréalisme en Belgique'', Espace Sculfort, Maubeuge (17 November - 7 January 1996). * 1996: ''« Ce qui est attirant est beau », Irène, Scutenaire, Magritte and Co'' Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, Brussels, (13 September - 15 December). * 1998: ''Les affinités suffisantes'', Musée Ianchelevici, La Louvière (19 September - 25 October). * 2004: ''Le Surréalisme en Belgique'', National Museum of Art of Romania, Bucharest (7 October - 5 December). * 2006: ''Arts et Sciences'', scientific exhibition, Maison de la Science, Liege (8 May - 30 October) * 2007: ''Le Surréalisme en Belgique 1924-2000'', BAM, Mons (18 March - 19 August) * 2010: ''Collages@Romantiek'', Galerie Alfons Blomme & former National Bank, Roeselare (6 February - 28 February). * 2010: ''Deurnroosje'', exhibition in shop-windows, Turnhoutsebaan, Deurne (18 August - 22 August). * 2011: ''Oh Crisis 2.0'', Huize Frankendael, Amsterdam (28 March - 28 May). * 2012: ''Un abécédaire pour La Louvière'', Centre de la Gravure et de l'Image imprimée, La Louvière (29 September - 6 January 2013) * 2014: ''Abécédaire du surréalisme '', Centre Wallonie-Bruxelles, Paris (6 February - 6 April). * 2015: ''The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, Surrealism in Belgium'', The Baker Museum, Naples, Florida, USA (31 January - 3 May). * 2017: ''Collages & Assemblages'' (Book release - illustrated), Verbeke Foundation, Kemzeke (23 April - 30 October). * 2018: ''Imaginaire et Figuration dans l'art du Collage'', , Brussels (8 June - 22 July). * 2019: ''Magische collages'', , (19 October 2019 - 19 January 2020). * 2019: ''Surrealism in Knokke'', Gallerij Ronny Van de Velde, (15 December - 1 January 2020). * 2022: ''Sans dieu, sans maître, sans roi et sans droits'', Verbeke Foundation, (12 June - June 2023). * 2023: ''Le mal du Pays'', Galerij Rossaert - Ronny Van de Velde,Galerij Ronny Van de Velde
/ref> (21 January - 26 March 2023). * 2023: ''Wintertentoonstelling'' Verbeke Foundation, Kemzeke (19 November 2023 - 28 April 2024). * 2024: ''Histoire à ne pas rire'' Centre for Fine Arts, Brussels, (21 February - 16 June 2024).

Individual publications

* ''Un Conte de Fées'', Berchem-Antwerpen, Les Editions de la Serfouette, 1967 (21 drawings) with images of paintings. Preface & afterword of Gilbert Senecaut (''Faites vos jeux! - Rien ne va plus!''). * ''J'ai montré quelquefois ce que l'homme croit voir'', Berchem-Antwerpen, Les Editions de la Serfouette, 1968 (1 drawing accompanied by two texts of Claudine and Tom Gutt). * ''Deux farceurs'' (in collaboration with Yves Bossut), s.l., s.d. (c. 1969). * ''Les croisades'', Brussels, , n° 2, November 1972 (6 drawings). * ''Untitled'', Brussels, Le Vocatif, n° spécial, November 1972 (on the occasion of the exhibition in the galery Aquarius) (6 drawings). * ''Untitled'', Brussels, Le Vocatif, n° 57, March 1974 (6 drawings). * ''Untitled'', Brussels, Le Vocatif, n° 102, February 1976 (6 drawings). * ''Conchyliologies'', Brussels, Le Vocatif, n° 135, June 1977 (4 drawings). * ''Untitled'', Frassem-Arlon, Le Bon Plaisir, 1st series, without n°, 30 November 1985 (1 drawing). * ''Douaniers sans frontières'', in collaboration with Gilles Brenta (two books with 12 drawings each), Brussels, Une passerelle en papier, 1995.

Illustrations

* Tom Gutt, ''Ambages'', s.l., 1967 (1 drawing). * Gilbert Senecaut, ''On ne change pas d'épaule un fusil à deux coups'', Brussels, collection "Une passerelle en papier", 1968 (2 drawings). *

, ''Il est toujours trop tard 1924 - 1928'', 10 engravings of Roger van de Wouwer, Berchem-Antwerpen Les Editions de la Serfouette, 1969. * Tom Gutt, ''L'ordre alphabétique'', Brussels, 1970 (12 drawings). *

, ''Mes Inscriptions 1945 - 1963'', Brussels, 1976 (one of the 15 engravings of the 120 deluxe copies). * Gilbert Senecaut, ''Livraison sans domicile précédé de A dessein dessin et demi'', Brussels, Brassa, 1980 (29 drawings). *

, ''La Citerne'', Brussels, Brassa, 1987 (portrait of the author in ink). * , ''Le cycle de Berlin'', Brussels, Une passerelle en papier, 1988 (2 drawings). * André Thirion, ''Portrait d'

André Breton André Robert Breton (; 19 February 1896 – 28 September 1966) was a French writer and poet, the co-founder, leader, and principal theorist of surrealism. His writings include the first ''Surrealist Manifesto'' (''Manifeste du surréalisme'') o ...

suivi de Bavardages et Parodies'', Brussels, 1989 (reproduction of the portrait of

). * Michel Thyrion, ''L'imagination du chien'', Brussels, Une passerelle en papier, 1996 (9 drawings). * Jacques Wergifosse, ''Variations sur un thème'', Brussels, 2001 (portrait of the author in ink). * Jacques Wergifosse, ''Troisième chanson perdue'', Brussels, Collection La Chanson perdue, 2001 (1 drawing). * Tom Gutt, Jean Wallenborn, ''La porte ouverte est fermée'', Les Editions de Furfooz, 2015 (1 drawing).

Films

* About Roger Van de Wouwer: ''A bout portant, a film bout Roger Van de Wouwer'', directed by Claude François, written by Jean Wallenborn and Claude François, produced by PBC Pictures, Ambiances asbl, RTBF/Unité Documentaire, with support of the Centre du Cinéma et de l'Audiovisuel de la Communauté Française de Belgique and the Walloon distributors (2006). * Mentioning Roger Van de Wouwer: ''Le Désordre alphabétique, a film about surrealism in Belgium'', written and directed by Claude François, produced by Image Création (2012).

Bibliography

* C.E. hiara Elefante ''Roger van de Wouwer (Hoboken(Antwerp - Belgium) 1933), L'Auberge espagnole'' in ''Arlecchino senza Mantello'', s.l.d. Ruggero Campagnoli and Marc Quaghebeur, Rimini, Panozzo Editore, 1993 (with one reproduction). * Frederik Leen, in ''Irène, Scut, Magritte and Co'', Brussels, Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, 1996 (with 3 reproductions). * Xavier Canonne ''in'' catalogue of ''Le Surrealisme en Belgique'', Musée National d'Art de Roumanie - Communauté française de Belgique-MNaR, 2004. * Jean Wallenborn, ''La violence tranquille'', Paris, Infosurr, n° 66, November–December 2005 (with 1 drawing). * Xavier Canonne ''in'' Catalogue of ''Le Surréalisme en Belgique 1924-2000'', Mons, BAM, 2007. * Jean Wallenborn, ''Roger Van de Wouwer L'incorruptible'', Kemzeke, Verbeke Foundation,Verbeke Foundation
/ref> 2016 (illustrated). * José Miguel Pérez Corrales, ''Caleidoscopio surrealista'', Tenerife, La Pagina Ediciones, 2017.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Van de Wouwer, Roger 1933 births 2005 deaths Painters from Antwerp category:Illustrators from Antwerp People from Hoboken Belgian surrealist artists Belgian illustrators 20th-century Belgian painters Royal Academy of Fine Arts (Antwerp) alumni