FRANK Lucien

(Belgian, Brussels 1857-1920 Ohain)

Lucien Frank was born in Brussels. His parents were from Dutch and French origin with Jewish roots. He received his artistic training in Paris from Charles Daubigny and knew and probably received advice from Edouard Manet. He was an adept of the ‘pleinairisme’ (same ambitions as impressionism but more realistic). During the period 1887-1890 he settled in the charming village of Ohain and developed his own style. Afterwards he worked a lot in the area of Tervuren where he settled for a while. The Belgian coast and Holland also inspired him.

By the time his subject of predilection became the animation of the streets and markets in the larger cities (Brussels, Paris, …), which brought him to travel abroad. He rendered this scenes in a very personal style.

At the beginning of the first World War, he left Belgium. During this exile which brought him to France and Spain, his wife (Sylvia Marie Vloeberghen which was also a painter) died.

He came back in Belgium in 1919, and resettled in Ohain together with his son. Unfortunately he died of a sudden stroke at the beginning of 1920 only a few months after this move.

Lucien Frank was a renowned and talented Belgian Impressionist painter and watercolourist of landscapes, seascapes and urban sights.