Emiel Poetou (1885-1975), Head Of A Girl, Lacquered Plaster Sculpture, Signed, 1926.

Emiel Poetou (1885-1975), Head of a young girl or Madonna, lacquered plaster sculpture, signed, Ghent, 1926.
Sculpture in Cubist and Africanist form published in the monograph: "Emiel Poetou Gent 1885--Drongen 1975, Emiel Poetou, Jean-François Blet, Norbert Poulain, Interbellum, 1985."

Biography:
Emiel François Poetou (Ghent, 1885-1975 Drongen), sculptor. Emiel Poetou grew up in Ghent, he attended evening school (drawing and modeling), after which he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Ghent and Brussels. He was a pupil of Jean Delvin, Jules and Louis van Biesbroeck in Ghent and in Brussels with Charles Van der Stappen and Victor Rouseau. His fellow students were Léon Sarteel, Geo Verbankk, and Domien Ingels. In 1912, he received the Quadrennial Prize for Sculpture. In 1927, he decided to devote himself entirely to his art and was influenced by avant-garde movements in the tradition of Zadkine, Archipenko, and Brancusi. In the 1920s, he created nudes, Madonnas, and expressionist heads. From 1922 onward, his work became more monumental. In the 1930s, he also created various portrait heads in his own style. After the 1930s, his work became increasingly abstract; in the 1950s, his works showed a kinship with Jean Arp and Henry Moore. His nudes took on round shapes and sinuous lines, and his choice of materials also changed. He sprayed various works with automobile paint, but also used polyester for his forms. In the mid-1960s, he also began making animal sculptures and plaster reliefs of flowers and leaves. A completely different kind of work, by the way. After his 85th birthday, he began working constructively again and still has exhibitions. He was someone who was constantly looking for a different and innovative design language and innovative techniques. Emiel Poetou also designed weapons and medals; the coat of arms of Ghent University is his own.