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Bram Van Velde

Bram Van Velde was born in Zoeterwoude, Netherlands. He died in 1981 in Grimaud, France. He was a Dutch painter and lithographer.

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He was self-taught artist, whose interest in painting began in his childhood. At the age of twelve, he started working for the painting and interior design firm "Schaijk & Kramers" in The Hague. Eduard H. Kramers, who was an art amateur, noticed his apprentice's potential and interest for painting. He then encouraged him to pursue in this direction and became his patron until around 1934.

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His career started in 1927 when he went to Bremen to exhibit his works. One year later, he got admitted to the Salon des Indépendants in Paris, along with his brother Geer.

Although he was first influenced by the German expressionists, he received, in Paris, the influence of the fauvists.

 

In 1939, the painter started elaborating his own visual language, with three large gouaches that established his particular style.

Yet, it was not until the 1960s, when he moved to Geneva, that he gained some recognition. A first film by Jean-Michel Meurice was made about his life.

His paintings from the 1950s are reminiscent of the contemporary work of Matisse, Picasso and the abstract expressionist Adolph Gottlieb.

In the 1960s, it evolved into expressive abstract art.

 

He was friend with a number of French-speaking writers, including Samuel Beckett and the poet André du Bouchet.