“Ninety-three zero thirty-three zero five zero zero X” Fantoir reference. Does it spark your imagination? Welcome to Boulevard Maurice Guilbert. It is located in Gournay-sur-Marne. This unassuming street shares its name with a remarkable Belgian artist.
Maurice Guilbert was born in Mons. The artist died in Uccle Brussels. He lived 57 years. He was a painter. He is known for his landscapes. Guilbert represented the School of Mons in painting.
Maurice-Henri Guilbert was born in Mons. His father was unknown. His mother was Cèline Guilbert. He married Marthe Rom in Ixelles. Guilbert studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Mons. He specialized in tempera on canvas.
During World War I Guilbert fled Belgium. The German army had invaded it. He took refuge in the Netherlands. Guilbert painted landscapes of Hainaut and the Ardennes. He also painted the Meuse and the Côte des Maures in southern France.
From 1925 to 1933 he was president. He headed Uccle’s Centre d’Art. He was also one of its founding members. Guilbert was interested in politics. He was elected as a deputy municipal councilor in Uccle. He represented the Liberal Party.
His works are in museums in Mons and Ixelles. They are also in the collections of the Brussels-Capital Region. After his death in Uccle he was buried in Uccle Cemetery. His funeral was held at Saint-Pierre Church in Uccle.
Guilbert adopted a luminist style. He structured his landscapes with bright colors. This was especially true for his tempera paintings.
His works include Paysage à Saint-Job from 1910. There is also Les Jeunes Peupliers from 1910. Effet de neige dates to 1911. Impression d’hiver is from 1912. Breedene-sur-Mer is another work from 1912. Sapins et Bouleaux dates to 1914. L’Amblève et le Toit rose is from 1922. Les Eucalyptus Provence dates to 1923. Le Château Waulsort is from 1925. Les Peupliers de La Grave is also from 1925. La Route du Lavandou dates to 1927.
In 1938 a white stone bench was installed. It honored Maurice Guilbert. He was president of Uccle Centre d’Art. The bench is in Wolvendael Park in Uccle.
So as you stroll along Boulevard Maurice Guilbert remember the artist. He captured landscapes with vibrant colors. He left a lasting mark on Belgian art. The street and his art share a legacy of beauty. They offer a glimpse into a creative soul.