A multi-facetted oeuvre

It is somewhat difficult to spontaneously link Jan De Smedt with one of the leading artistic movements of his time. He was closest to the intimist painters, who turned their backs on pure expressionism and focused on human dignity and the warmth of domestic interiors. He remained faithful to figurative art but followed his own path, creating a multi-facetted oeuvre  that was centred on expression and sensitivity. He made portraits, landscapes, still lifes, flowers and nudes, as well as a variety of seascapes.

Portraits

Portraits are omnipresent in both De Smedt’s sculptures and his paintings. His portraits were mainly of his family and close friends, with his favourite subjects being those of his wife, his son and himself. In his portraits, he tried to go beyond mere appearances and express inner feelings.

Terracotta and bronze

De Smedt also showed his talent in his sculptures, which were often in terracotta or bronze. Here too, the artist concentrated on portraits, favouring figures in a symbolic pose in works ranging from a child’s head to the harmonious power of femininity. This was how, one morning, he came to make a statuette of his wife wearing a dressing gown - Reste comme ça! Ne bouge pas! (Stay as you are! Don’t move!).