Rachel Baes Belgian, 1912-1983
Rachel Baes was a Belgian surrealist painter, born on August 1, 1912, in Brussels, Belgium. Daughter of the academic painter Émile Baes, she was introduced to the world of art from an early age. Largely self-taught, she began painting in her teens and developed a style marked by symbolic, dreamlike imagery and psychological depth.
In the 1930s, Baes became associated with the Surrealist movement, joining the vibrant circle of Belgian surrealists that included René Magritte, Paul Nougé, and Louis Scutenaire. She also exhibited with the Parisian Surrealists connected to André Breton. Her work often featured solitary, mysterious female figures in haunting, introspective environments. Through these images, she explored themes such as identity, alienation, and inner emotion.
In the late 1930s, Baes began a personal and romantic relationship with Joris Van Severen, a prominent figure in Belgian public life at the time. Their relationship ended tragically during World War II, when Van Severen was arrested by French authorities and executed in 1940 under unclear circumstances. This event deeply marked Baes and influenced her life and artistic trajectory.
She gradually withdrew from the public eye, though she continued painting.
Rachel Baes died on June 8, 1983, in Bruges. For many years, her work remained relatively underappreciated, but recent interest in women artists of the Surrealist movement has led to a renewed recognition of her unique contribution to 20th-century art.
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TEFAF MAASTRICHT 2025
The surrealist activity and its legacy 15 - 20 Mar 2025Gallery Retelet is proud to participate for the second time at TEFAF. After having celebrated the Belgian Surrealist movement in 2024 we decided for 2025...Read more -
ART PARIS 2024
The Surrealist activity 4 - 7 Apr 2024 -
TEFAF MAASTRICHT 2024
The Surrealist activity in Belgium 9 - 14 Mar 2024For TEFAF, the Galerie Retelet will be proud to propose a booth that shows an overview of the historical Surrealist activity in Belgium. The year...Read more