George GRARD

1901 – 1984

George Grard (Tournai, Nov. 26, 1901 – Saint-Idesbald, Sept. 26, 1984) became known for monumental works of female nudes, such as “The Sea” in Ostend and the “Seated Woman” at the National Bank in Brussels. He is widely recognized as one of the most important figurative Belgian sculptor.

Grard trained at the Académie des Beaux-Arts of Tournai in drawing, sculpture and painting. In 1930 he received a scholarship, donated by the city of Tournai, and obtained the Rubens Prize from the Palace of Fine Arts in Brussels

In 1931 he went to live in Sint-Idesbald (Koksijde) in a fisherman’s cottage. He made a studio there. Together with other artists who came to Saint-Idesbald because of the good light available for their works, the so-called School of Saint-Idesbald was founded. These artists included his close friend Paul Delvaux and the artists Pierre Caille, Serge Creuz, Albert Dasnoy.

In 1935, Grard won the Prix de la Roseraie as part of the 1935 World’s Fair in Brussels. From then on, he devoted himself entirely to his sculpture in Saint-Idesbald.

Grard’s preference was for large bronze sculptures depicting the female nude. Until the mid-1950s, he emphasized the full, female forms in his seated, reclining and standing figures. His sculpture The Great African is a turning point. It is a new female type, a stretched, slender figure. Starting in 1965, he also turned to bronze figures in small size.

In 1967 he became a member of the Class of Fine Arts, Sculpture Department of the Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Sciences and Arts. In 1970, he was honored with the five-yearly “State Prize to Award an Artist’s Career.”[2]

Francine van Mieghem, his wife and model (also a sculptor) created a bronze bust of him in 1995 as a tribute to her teacher. This bust stands on the George Grard square in Saint-Idesbald. His daughter Chantal Grard also follows in her father’s footsteps with her sculptures.

Since June 2016, an important part of his oeuvre has been on display at the Ten Bogaerde Arts Center in Koksijde. On the second floor is the George Grard room with original plasters and drawings. Outside, eight bronze sculptures are on display.

Jef Ceulemans made the documentary Tekens about George Grard. It was broadcast on BRTN 2 in 1995.

Source: Wikipedia