Simon Van Gelderen ( Brussels, 1905 – Ostend, 1986) - 'central Square, Brussels'

Simon Van Gelderen
Brussels 1905 – 1986 Ostend
Belgian Painter

'Central Square, Brussels'

Signature: signed lower right 'S. van Gelderen', ± 1960
Medium: oil on canvas
Dimensions: image size 88 x 117 cm; frame size 116 x 146 cm

Biography: Simon Van Gelderen, born in Brussels in 1905 and deceased in Ostend in 1986, was a Belgian Impressionist painter whose work is distinguished by its thematic diversity, elegance, and spontaneity.

Belonging to a generation of artists rooted in tradition while embracing the modern sensibilities of the twentieth century, Van Gelderen first studied at the Sint-Lucas Academy and later at the Academy of Fine Arts in Brussels, where he received a solid academic training.

His oeuvre reflects an Impressionist mastery characterized by lively brushwork and a luminous palette, faithful to nature yet animated by pictorial energy and a refined sense of colour. Critics have described his paintings as spontaneous, elegant, vibrant, realistic, and harmoniously coloured, often perceived as virtuoso exercises of hand and eye.

Van Gelderen explored a wide range of subjects throughout his career, painting landscapes, hunting scenes, city views, church interiors, and still lifes, all infused with atmosphere and sensitivity. Alongside oil painting, he also practiced drawing and pastel, which further broadened the scope of his artistic production and revealed his sustained interest in texture, light, and form.

Although less internationally known than some of his contemporaries, his works are represented in private collections and regularly appear on the art market, testifying to the lasting appreciation of his talent.

His artistic legacy endures through paintings that combine Impressionist freshness with careful observation of everyday life and nature, securing him a place among the notable figures of twentieth-century Belgian art.