Agnes Maes, De uitvinding van de eenzaamheid, 2003, oil on canvas, 120 cm x 150 cm | Courtesy Kristof De Clercq gallery, Ghent
The work of Belgian artist Agnes Maes (1942-2016 | lived and worked in Deinze, Belgium) is characterised by a great variation in form and subject matter, both in painting and drawing. Her work balances between figuration and abstraction, and is deeply rooted in what one could call the 'Flemish tradition of painting'. Both in themes, use of colors, brushstrokes and layers, one can find references to and echoes of Raoul De Keyser and Roger Raveel. The very personal use of colour, the sensitive, intuitive brushstroke, and the lush, palpable light make Agnes Maes' paintings extremely sensual.