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Willy Smitz
War and Peace, Mid-Century Surrealist Oil on Board.

1954

About the Item

Mid-century Surrealist oil on board depicting War and Peace by Belgian Artist, Willy Smitz. Signed and dated bottom right with his recognisable triangular motif ( initialed WS ), in a period frame. Born in Belgium in 1914 Willy Smitz began his artistic career as an impressionist painter turning to surrealism in the 1950s. He died in 1967. This painting very graphically and colourfully depicts the two opposing sides of war and peace. Painted in 1954 and presumably strongly influenced by the ravages of the second world war and the threat of nuclear devastation during the cold war period. The left side of the image offers a vision of hope post apocalypse with its brighter colours and doves of peace whilst the right highlights the grim consequences of war offering bombs and a figure of death on a backdrop of a fire-red sky. A thought provoking statement piece.
  • Creator:
    Willy Smitz
  • Creation Year:
    1954
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 30.71 in (78 cm)Width: 24.41 in (62 cm)Depth: 0.99 in (2.5 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
    A few very light scratches to outer areas of the picture, not detracting from the artwork as a whole.
  • Gallery Location:
    Cotignac, FR
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: GB1stDibs: LU143028679482
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