Hendrik van Balen (approx. 1575-1632)
The Flemish painter was a contemporary of Jan Brueghel and Peter Paul Rubens, with whom he also created several works. Hendrik van Balen was born in Antwerp in 1575, was accepted as a master of a guild at the age of 17 and then traveled through Venice, Rome etc. to learn his craft. Some of his paintings can be admired in the St. James’ Church and the Cathedral of Our Lady in his hometown, including the “Angel Concert”. Altar paintings, mythological scenes, and copper engravings come from his hands. By the way, one of van Balen’s numerous students was Anthony van Dyck.
Anthonis van Dyck (1599-1641)
The world-famous Flemish painter and graphic artist was born in Antwerp in 1599 and was a student of Peter Paul Rubens. At the age of 33 he moved to London, where he worked as the court painter to Charles I (1600-1649). He was raised to the nobility by King Charles I in the year he was resettled and has been called Sir Anthony van Dyke ever since. Together with Jacob Jordaens (1593-1678) and Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) he is considered to be one of the most important representatives of the Flemish Baroque. Van Dyck’s specialty was portraits. A color was named after him: Van Dyck brown. He died on December 9, 1641 in London.
M artine Franck (1938-2012)
According to ehealthfacts, Martine Franck was born in Antwerp in 1938 and studied history in Madrid and Paris. In the mid-1960s, she initially worked as a photo assistant for “Life” magazine and gained her first experience before setting up on her own. The photographer was a member of the “Magnum Fotos” photo agency and was married to the photographer Henri Cartier Bresson until his death, in whose honor she later founded a foundation. Franck’s works are in particular portraits, black-and-white photographs with a surreal touch or snapshots that have a false bottom. Franck died in Paris in 2012.
Jacob Jordaens (1593-1678)
Jacob Jordans was born on May 19 in Antwerp and was the oldest of eleven children. Together with Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) and Anthonis van Dyck (1599-1641), the painter is considered to be one of the most important exponents of the Flemish Baroque. Jordaens focused particularly on large scenic genre pictures that were inspired, among other things, by Ovid’s Metamorphoses. Works by him can now be seen in the following locations: “The Satyr at the Farmer” (1620) and “The Triumph of Bacchus” (1640/45) are located in Kassel in the Old Masters Picture Gallery. Further works hang in the Munich Pinakothek and in the Berlin Gemäldegalerie. Jordaens died on October 18, 1678 in his native Antwerp.
Benjamin Katz (born 1939)
photographer. Benjamin Katz was born in Antwerp in 1939 as the son of refugee Berlin Jews and is considered a German photographer. He moved back to Berlin in the 1950s and studied at the University of Fine Arts. In the 1960s he founded a gallery. Furthermore, Katz has already had numerous exhibitions from Brussels to Zurich, Cologne, Kassel, Moscow and back to Berlin. He also published a book on the subject of “Georg Baselitz at Work”. Katz has already had joint exhibitions with Baselitz, his long-time friend. Katz is considered a chronicler of the West German art scene and taught photography at the Art Academy in Düsseldorf, among others.
Eugeen Van Mieghem (1875-1930)
The painter, born in Antwerp in 1875, gained notoriety and prestige primarily through his depictions of simple (port) workers. He himself was born in the poor harbor district and grew up there, saw the arduous and difficult work every day, wanted to capture its protagonists artistically. Around 150 of his works can be admired in the Eugen Van Mieghem Museum in Antwerp. Van Mieghem taught at the art school in his hometown from 1920 and exhibited works of his own until his death in 1930.
Joos de Momper (1564-1635)
The artist is considered an outstanding representative of pre-romantic landscape painting. De Momper’s male ancestors were also addicted to the brush and canvas, so a certain talent was passed on. De Momper captured lakes and mountains in particular. Works by him can be viewed in the Alte Pinakothek in Munich, in the Hamburger Kunsthalle and in the Vienna Museum of Art History. Joos de Momper died in his hometown of Antwerp in 1635.
Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640)
Peter Paul Rubens was born on June 28, 1577 in Siegen in what is now North Rhine-Westphalia.
His father was advised as a lay judge in Antwerp, but in 1568 he and his family had to flee to Cologne as a Reformed Christian. From there he went to Siegen after a stay in prison at the fortress Dillenburg.
In 1578 he was able to return to Cologne with his family.
After his father’s death in 1587, his mother and the children moved back to Antwerp.
Together with Jacob Jordaens (1593-1678) and Anthonis van Dyck (1599-1641) he is considered to be one of the most important representatives of the Flemish Baroque.
He died on May 30, 1640 in Antwerp
Antoine Tassaert (1727-1788)
Flemish sculptor. Jean-Pierre-Antoine Tassaert was born in Antwerp in 1727 to a family of sculptors. However, he did his training in Paris and England, where he created his first busts in the transition style from pompous rococo to classicism. In 1770 he moved with his family to Berlin, as he had received numerous orders from Prince Heinrich of Prussia to make statues for his Berlin palace. This was also followed by the appointment of rector at the local art academy. Works by the sculptor can be admired today in the Berlin Bode Museum. Jean-Pierre-Antoine Tassaert died in Berlin in 1788.