ZHONG CHENG

Provenance：PROVENANCE: Galerie Georges Giroux, Bruxelles Collection Burthoul (March 1950)

Illustrated：

Exhibition：

Exposition：NOTE: To be included in the catalogue raisonné de l\'oeuvre de Maurice de Vlaminck

In 1908, Vlaminck’s paintings acquired a shadow of grey with a composed air under Cezanne’s influence. Cubism also prompted him to focus on the structural integrity, which appeared to be partial to German Expressionism. It had been a while since his last painting when the WWI broke out, and he didn’t resume until the 1920s, during which he left Paris for the rural air. Eglise du Village was created during this time. The village church with a pointed tower sits among the greens under the overcast. Beneath the peaceful surface lies the slightest trace of unrest, murky and depressed with twisted lines and forms. They are implications of the artist’s inner world. The brightness on the lower left strikes a sense of balance, an indication of Vlaminck’s unique touch. He combined Vincent van Gogh’s brushstrokes and Cezanne’s use of geometric forms. The desire to liberate his soul inspired unbridled creativity, bringing in the colors, light and shadow in harmony. Art critics consider Vlaminck’s landscape paintings extraordinary. He painted for his heart, not style. To him, instinct is the fundamentals of art, and that was Vlaminck’s pursuit.