Origins and Youth (1876-1890)

Edmond De Maertelaere was born on October 8, 1876, in Ghent (Gent), son of Polydorus De Maertelaere and Maria Theresia Van Der Straeten. From an early age, he displayed remarkable artistic talent that distinguished him from his peers.

Early Training and First Successes (1890-1898)

At just 14 years old, Edmond won first prize in decorative drawing at the Industrial Arts School (Nijverheidsschool), precociously revealing his exceptional abilities. Encouraged by this success, he enrolled at the Koninklijke Academie van Teeken-, Beeldhouw- en Bouwkunde (Royal Academy of Drawing, Sculpture and Architecture) in Ghent.

In 1898, he completed his training brilliantly by winning the gold medal and a grant of three thousand francs, a considerable sum for the time that represented a small fortune. This official recognition marked the beginning of a promising career.

The Parisian Sojourn and Académie Julian (1898-1900)

Thanks to his grant, De Maertelaere went to Paris where he perfected his art for two years at the prestigious Académie Julian, under the direction of Jean-Paul Laurens. During this formative period, he had Paul Gauguin as a classmate, thus rubbing shoulders with the Parisian artistic avant-garde of the late 19th century.

The Grand Artistic Journeys (1898-1905)

His grant also enabled him to undertake study trips essential to his training. He visited Florence, Rome, Vienna, and Munich, where he meticulously studied the works of the great masters of the Renaissance and European schools.

It was in Brittany, in the artistic village of Pont-Aven, that he found an ideal artistic climate that profoundly marked his style. This place, already famous for having welcomed Gauguin and the Pont-Aven School, particularly inspired the young artist.

Settlement in Ghent and Professional Life (1900-1927)

After his Parisian period, Edmond De Maertelaere settled permanently in the Saint-Élisabethbegijnhof (Saint Elizabeth Beguinage) in Ghent, at number 11 Sophie Van Akenstraat, a spacious residence where he would live and work his entire life.

Appointed professor at the Ghent Academy of Fine Arts, he displayed remarkable professional discretion. Unlike many of his contemporaries, he participated neither in major official collective exhibitions nor in local salons. This independent and deliberately withdrawn character hindered the dissemination of his name but allowed him to develop a clientele of enlightened amateurs who appreciated and acquired his drawings, watercolors, gouaches, pastels, and oil paintings.

The Traveling and Cosmopolitan Artist (1900-1938)

For his time, De Maertelaere was a remarkably well-traveled artist. He regularly stayed and worked abroad, visiting Germany, England, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Spain, and Switzerland on multiple occasions. These travels constantly enriched his artistic vision and allowed him to exhibit in various European countries.

Ostend held a special place in his heart and work. He was particularly fond of this Belgian seaside town and stayed there frequently, capturing the atmosphere of the port, the life of fishermen, and maritime scenes that would become recurring themes in his production.

Marriage and Family Life (1927-1938)

In 1927, at the age of 51, Edmond De Maertelaere married Augusta Van Acker, who had been his student. She was the daughter of a florist from Lochristi, a detail that is not insignificant given the importance of floral still lifes in the painter's work. From this union, a son named Raphaël was born in 1934, who would later become a set designer at VRT (Flemish television) until his retirement.

Style and Themes

De Maertelaere excelled in multiple artistic genres and techniques:

Still Lifes: True technical tours de force, his floral compositions (dahlias, chrysanthemums, roses, sunflowers, peonies) are distinguished by their virtuosity in rendering matter, their colorful palette, and their monumental presence that confers exceptional grandeur.

Portraits and Figures: He painted the world of fishermen, female nudes, mother-and-child scenes, ballet and dance tableaux, as well as various portraits including children in sailor costumes.

Landscapes: Forests, undergrowth, views of Ostend port, and rural scenes testify to his attachment to nature and maritime life.

Religious and Symbolic Subjects: His genre works include religious subjects and compositions with strong symbolic charge. His painting "The Crucifixion" was donated in 2013 to the church of the Saint Elizabeth Beguinage in Ghent.

Diverse Artistic Activities

Beyond painting, De Maertelaere deployed his talents in numerous fields:

• Design of posters, notably for the famous Ghent Floraliën
• Creation of stained-glass windows for churches, including the church of Erwetegem
• Illustration of literary works
• Execution of private commissions, such as an undergrowth scene depicting an avenue from the park of Leeuwergem Castle
• Execution of numerous murals, including a remarkable series of nine Swiss views for the restaurant "Den grooten Vos" in Rodenbachstraat in Ghent

Recognition and Artistic Position

Edmond De Maertelaere belonged to that generation of Belgian artists who, between the two world wars, were relegated to the background by the rise of Expressionism. His poetic realism, tinged here and there with symbolism, no longer fit into the atmosphere of ideoplastic expression that dominated at the time.

Nevertheless, he received numerous distinctions, first prizes, and official recognitions both in Belgium and abroad. His virtuoso technique, exceptional mastery of color, and ability to recreate matter with brilliance earned him the admiration of connoisseurs.

Presence in Collections

His works are now preserved in prestigious institutions:

• Museum of Fine Arts, Ghent: "Still Life with Dahlias"
• M.i.a.t. (Museum of Industry, Labor and Textile): "Bleu d'Outremer"
• Huis van Alijn (Ghent): "Ruins of Saint Bavo Abbey"
• Museums in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
• Museums in Texas (United States)
• Collections in Vienna (Austria) and Stockholm (Sweden)
• Numerous private collections

Death and Legacy (1938)

Edmond De Maertelaere died on November 4, 1938, in Ghent, at the age of 62. He left behind his wife Augusta and his young son Raphaël, then only four years old.

A Discreet Master of Poetic Realism

A genre and still-life painter par excellence, Edmond De Maertelaere represents an important but often overlooked facet of early 20th-century Belgian art. His deliberate choice to remain on the margins of official circuits, his fierce independence, and his professional discretion explain why his renown did not match his immense technical talent.

His works, characterized by remarkable technical virtuosity, brilliant coloring, and an exceptional ability to render matter, give the viewer an impression of considerable power. Each still life becomes under his brush a celebration of life, light, and color.

A man of his time but resolutely faithful to a classical pictorial tradition, De Maertelaere embodies that generation of Belgian artists who, while rubbing shoulders with the avant-garde, chose to pursue a personal path, that of poetic realism of exceptional quality. His work remains a precious testimony to the richness and diversity of the Belgian artistic scene between the two world wars.