José Crunelle (1924-2012). "tree". 1989.

Oil on wood. Does not require a frame. Dimensions: 80 x 74 cm. Signed lower right and dated on the back 1989.
José Crunelle is a Belgian artist (decorator, painter, engraver, illustrator, coppersmith, tapestry maker), born in 1924 and died in 2012. He studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Brussels and at the Academy of Saint-Josse-ten-Noode. He is a professor of graphic arts, monumental art and visual communication and image, at the Academy of Saint-Josse-ten-Noode and for 30 years (from 1959 to 1989) at the Royal Academy of Brussels. He also had a long and rich career as an artist. He is the author of monumental murals for buildings as part of the activities of the Ministry of Public Works and Reconstruction. Among other things, he has created mosaics, including one in glass paste for the swimming pool of the CERIA complex in Anderlecht. He has made his mark in the history of Belgian artistic creation, especially through tapestry. He has multiplied his investigations of materials and in particular the use of colour, pushing the limits of figurative representation in the development of modern tapestry. With his lyrical and fiery style with shimmering colours, José has breathed new life into an artisanal practice that has been given a new lease of life thanks to the artists of modern Belgian tapestry, including Robert Degenève, Edmond Dubrunfaut, Roger Somville and Julien Van Vlasselaer. His last major solo exhibition was in 1999. It was organised by the Domaine de la Lice, an association of which he was co-founder. An exhibition, in 2013, took place in Brussels at the Eric Van Ghendt gallery.