Henri Victor Wolvens – drypoint “Coxyde”

Henri Victor Wolvens (Brussels 1896 – Bruges 1977).
Coxyde (Koksijde).

Original drypoint on paper by the Belgian painter (and printmaker) Henri Victor Wolvens.

The composition depicts the bustling beach at Coxyde on the Belgian coast. The sweeping sea, animated sky, beach cabins and holidaymakers evoke the vibrant seaside scenes that also made his paintings so distinctive.

Framed and ready to hang.

• Plate size: 19.5 × 9.5 cm
• Sheet size: 32.5 × 50.5 cm
• Framed dimensions: 30 × 40 cm
• Frame: oak veneer
• Technique: drypoint, printed in black ink on paper
• Edition: 13/20
• Signed in the plate and signed in pencil
• Titled “Coxyde” in pencil on the verso
• Blindstamp in the paper
• Original deckled edges preserved; sheet folded for framing

This print is catalogued as no. 47 in Jo Verbrugghen’s reference work De etsen van H.V. Wolvens (1971). According to the catalogue, Wolvens’ printing plates were destroyed (scratched) after the editions were completed. H.V. Wolvens “engraved” his plates during the years 1940-45, the years of “forced lonelines” (WWII) . Yet, he only appears to have printed them 25-30 years later, about a decade before his death.

Although Verbrugghen’s catalogue uses the terms “etching” and “engraving” interchangeably, close examination reveals that Coxyde was executed in the drypoint technique, a technique celebrated by artists such as Rembrandt. In drypoint, the artist draws directly into a metal plate with a sharp needle. The raised burr created by the incision retains ink and produces the soft, velvety line quality visible in this impression. Because these burrs gradually wear down during printing, only a relatively small number of high-quality impressions can be pulled from a plate.

Henri Victor Wolvens is best known for his expressive views of the Belgian coast, painted in a highly personal and modern style. A contemporary and acquaintance of James Ensor, Wolvens occupied a distinctive place within twentieth-century Belgian art. While his paintings have long been appreciated by collectors, his graphic work remains comparatively overlooked and offers an accessible opportunity to acquire an original work by one of Belgium’s most individual coastal artists.

Condition: Very good. Clean impression with strong burr and rich printing quality.