Constant Permeke

A new look at Constant Permeke Although the work of Belgian artist Constant Permeke (1886–1952) is generally classified as Expressionism, he explored a multitude of registers. From the very beginning of his career, Permeke gained widespread international recognition with recurring subjects such as domestic scenes and people engaged in everyday activities. His landscapes and seascapes exude a hushed, sometimes sublime warmth. For Permeke, art and life were closely linked. His oeuvre shimmers with a vital, raw energy but can also be melancholic. He combined his painting technique – characterised by powerful brushstrokes, dabs, smudges, scratches and streaks – with drawing and outlining. Fully aligned with Modernism, he looked for ways to break through academism and reinvent painting, time and time again. This collection book is beautifully illustrated with dozens of paintings, sculptures and drawings. The numerous archive photographs offer unparalleled insight into the master’s life and oeuvre. With illuminating essays by Permeke experts and literary contributions by David Van Reybrouck and Daniël Rovers. This book is published to coincide with the reopening of the Permeke Museum in Jabbeke, Belgium.