Plaquette uitgereikt aan Bart van Hove bij de internationale wereldtentoonstelling te Brussel, 1910 1910

Godefroid Devreese made this small bronze plaque in 1910 for the international world fair in Brussels. The approach to the figures is amazing, the way they seem to emerge, pushing up from the surface. Look at the way the light catches those figures on the front! The texture gives a real sense of drama. It’s not just about what the figures represent, but how the bronze itself seems to be alive, writhing as though its a living substance. There is something about the fact this is so small and dense that gives it so much power; it feels like a concentrated dose of creative energy. It reminds me of Rodin, and his ability to capture movement and emotion in bronze, but Devreese brings a unique touch, a certain rawness, that makes it stand out. Isn’t it interesting how artists, through their material choices, keep the conversation going, responding to and building upon each other's ideas across time?