This 1965 Lyrical Abstract Composition by Belgian artist Jozef Mees (1898–1987) marks a mature moment in his evolution from Flemish Expressionism to lyrical abstraction. Executed in oil on panel (104 × 114 cm), the work resonates with gestural energy and a layered use of matter, light, and form.

Mees’s postwar abstractions are deeply rooted in the emotional currents of the École de Paris, Action Painting, and Jeune Peinture Belge. Bold color fields set against darker tones lend this piece a vibrant, almost theatrical intensity, one that is both expressive and introspective.

Beyond his practice, Mees played a foundational role in Belgium’s contemporary art landscape. He co-founded the Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens and the Association of the Museum of Contemporary Art Ghent, paving the way for institutions like SMAK and supporting voices such as Roger Raveel and Pierre Vlerick.

This work, with its tactile surface and poetic force, stands as a testament to Mees’s lasting impact on both painting and curatorial culture in postwar Europe.

Expositions: 1960 Galerie Du Haut Pave, Parijs, 1968 Retrospectief. Museum voor Schone Kunsten. Gent 1972 Centrum voor kunst en Cultuur, Gent, 1971 Paleis voor Schone Kunsten, Brussel , 1970, Man en vrouw, Gent, 1978 Grand Palais, Parijs, Josef Mees. Retrospective. Deurle Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens 1988. Litteratuur: De jaren ’60. Kunst in België. Gent 1979, Contrast. Belgische Kunst van heden. Works in Museums Ghent & Deurle.

• Dimensions 104 × 33 × 114 cm