My father was not very interested in the international art fair. Sometimes an artist drew his attention, f.i. Bissière, Wagemaker and later on Massareel (as well as the other artists, mentioned before). Famous works should be accessible to study. He once mentioned this to the owner of a van Gogh painting in the province of Brabant, he wanted to see.

In his last years my father was very pessimistic about his own work. Maybe I noticed it more because I usually visited my family in the darkest time of the year, around Christmas.

It was unbearable for him to see that his work was not altogether successful. He feared what he saw with Mataré, that his work would suffer under aging.

He had always been more or less of a worrier, this became more apparent in the dark winter days.

He painted the view of the garden in winter several times, which was something of a victory.

Maybe because the snow brought light again? Those paintings are important to me, as well as the memory of a conversation about the different colors white and grey.

Winter garden litho

There is one important thing I have not mentioned yet: my father had his characteristic attitude towards human relations from which he would not be dissuaded. He would never speak ill of anybody and one could be certain that he would say the same tomorrow as he would today.

Thus, in all his weaknesses, he was a tower of strength.