Why Charles Eyck ?
With a view to nature !

This exhibit concludes a series of activities on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Limburg artist Charles Eyck, who died in 1983.

Selected especially for the Natuurhistorisch Museum Maastricht are works of his which revolve around nature. Not only do the pieces on exhibit illustrate the way in which Charles Eyck recorded flora, fauna and landscapes on paper or canvas, they are also a clear demonstration of the artist's concerns with regard to nature's decline and his own way of opposing this.

This exhibit is special, not only as far as theme is concerned, but also as it shows pieces not exhibited previously.

To go with the exhibit is a set of seven reproductions (Hfl 2.50) of natural scenes by Charles Eyck, printed in postcard format. Please note that this is a limited edition !

The exhibit is open for public from Saturday November 8 till Sunday January 4 On working days from 10.00 - 12.30 and from 13.30 - 17.00 hrs. During the weekend from 14.00 - 17.00 hrs.

 

 

 

 

 

The exhibit explained
W.P. Graatsma

For this occasion, works from the extensive and varied oeuvre of Charles Eyck have been selected which illustrate nature (flora, fauna and landscapes), its gradual decline and the artist's opposition to this.

With nature as a central theme of the exhibit, various periods in the development of Eyck's talent are shown. For instance, an unknown, impressionist-like work dating from his early days (1912), entitled 'Koeien in een wei' (Grazing cows/Cows in a meadow), is next to a large canvas dating from 1926, entitled 'Sint Christoffel de rivier overstekend' (Saint Christopher crossing the river) and inspired by early Italian frescoes.

The total silence in which Eyck had to spend his life (having been deaf since tha age of 10, and only talking with difficulty) forced him to use drawings as a means of communication and expression.
He managed to get the art of drawing, which runs through his entire oeuvre (even his paintings look as if they were drawn), to great heights.

The innumerable, quick sketches (at times, he produced scores on a single day !) which Eyck drew in pencil or ink during his many trips through the countryside are characterised amongst other things by the many notes on e.g. shades of colours, added.
Such notes served as aids to his memory and enabled him to later transform his drawings into paintings in his atelier. Photographs of animals, trees and landscapes taken by himself served the same purpose.

During his later days, Eyck became less mobile, and copied himself by redoing many of his drawings in black ink. Of these new, original works many are on exhibit as well.

 

In addition ot the drawings and paintings mentioned above, Eyck's versatility is also illustrated by his graphic art, two sculptures, decorative plates and vases in the shape of birds, as well as by magazines and books and a special design for a stained glass window depicting 'Orpheus en de dieren' (Orpheus and the animals).
A few sketchbooks and the 'Prentenboek voor Charelke van noonk Charel op zijn naamfeest 4. nov. 1944' (Picture book for little Charles from Uncle Charles on the occasion of his birthday 4 November 1944), not exhibited previously, are also included.

The style which Charles Eyck eventually considered his own, has made it possible that his work is now accessible to many, including young people !. The exhibit has been arranged with a wink at these youngsters ....