CIEL ARABLE - Épreuve d'état Etching by René MELS, 1950s - Signed Proof, 20x26"
Unearthed from the dusty, forgotten vaults of a retired NYC Manhattan art gallery, this signed proof etching titled CIEL ARABLE has been resting quietly in storage for over half a century, waiting patiently to be rediscovered. It strikingly captures the transformative spirit and visionary approach of René MELS—an artist whose creative journey began humbly in Herent, Belgium, in 1909. Trained rigorously at the prestigious Academy of Fine Arts in Louvain and later at La Cambre in Brussels, Mels further refined and pushed the boundaries of his craft under the avant-garde and experimental guidance of Hayter’s legendary Workshop 17 in Paris during the pivotal year of 1950. This exquisite piece resonates with his dramatic shift from figurative expressionism to a daring and bold abstract expressionism, showcasing his hallmark style: large, quadrangular compositions flooded in harmonious and textured variations of a single dominant color. Revered across Europe and celebrated alongside artistic giants like Friedlaender and Matta, Mels earned glowing reputations as an "authentic lord of art," a title well deserved for his groundbreaking and pioneering contributions to the world of abstract printmaking. Carefully preserved yet vibrantly alive after decades in near-obscurity, CIEL ARABLE offers a rare and exciting chance to hold an essential fragment of mid-century modernist genius—a true treasure from an artist who painted with both immense soul and breathtaking color.
The phrase ciel arable translates from French to "arable sky," a quirky and poetic juxtaposition that invites you to imagine the sky as fertile ground—ready to be sown with dreams, ideas, and creativity. At ART FIND GALLERY, this evocative concept perfectly captures our mission: unearthing hidden vintage treasures and cultivating new local artistry, turning the limitless skies of imagination into a harvest of fine art.
CIEL ARABLE - Épreuve d'état Etching by René MELS, 1950s - Signed Proof, 20x26"
Unearthed from the dusty, forgotten vaults of a retired NYC Manhattan art gallery, this signed proof etching titled CIEL ARABLE has been resting quietly in storage for over half a century, waiting patiently to be rediscovered. It strikingly captures the transformative spirit and visionary approach of René MELS—an artist whose creative journey began humbly in Herent, Belgium, in 1909. Trained rigorously at the prestigious Academy of Fine Arts in Louvain and later at La Cambre in Brussels, Mels further refined and pushed the boundaries of his craft under the avant-garde and experimental guidance of Hayter’s legendary Workshop 17 in Paris during the pivotal year of 1950. This exquisite piece resonates with his dramatic shift from figurative expressionism to a daring and bold abstract expressionism, showcasing his hallmark style: large, quadrangular compositions flooded in harmonious and textured variations of a single dominant color. Revered across Europe and celebrated alongside artistic giants like Friedlaender and Matta, Mels earned glowing reputations as an "authentic lord of art," a title well deserved for his groundbreaking and pioneering contributions to the world of abstract printmaking. Carefully preserved yet vibrantly alive after decades in near-obscurity, CIEL ARABLE offers a rare and exciting chance to hold an essential fragment of mid-century modernist genius—a true treasure from an artist who painted with both immense soul and breathtaking color.
The phrase ciel arable translates from French to "arable sky," a quirky and poetic juxtaposition that invites you to imagine the sky as fertile ground—ready to be sown with dreams, ideas, and creativity. At ART FIND GALLERY, this evocative concept perfectly captures our mission: unearthing hidden vintage treasures and cultivating new local artistry, turning the limitless skies of imagination into a harvest of fine art.
