René DESSAINTE “Black Country” oil painting on canvas

The pictorial art of René Dessainte—he also practiced watercolor—is a delight for the eyes and the heart. It is through color that he captivates us, with a vibrant chromatic palette brimming with energy and jubilation. Vivid tones are arranged in flat planes with a clarity reminiscent of comic strips or the coloring books of our childhood. Let us not see this as a criticism, for his creations, conceived as genre scenes, are always conceived and constructed with great rigor. Figures in groups of four, huddled in the center with a placidity and hieratic quality that evoke the Cubist art of Gustave De Smet or the Expressionism of Constant Permeke. While the Flemish art of Laethem-Saint-Martin was imbued with gravity or sadness, René Dessainte's universe, on the contrary, breathes his love for simple humanity, releasing a festive and invigorating vision. Scenes capturing moments of obvious happiness: rest after the harvest, a wedding, a family protecting a child, a music concert, a housewife grinding coffee, an accordion player. As in a photograph where someone poses without moving, the characters look at us as if to say, "See how easy it is to be happy!" A touch of nostalgia may creep over us as we contemplate this vanished world, but in the meantime, Mr. Dessainte's works do us good. It is the harmonious world of card games, popular brass bands, and friendly gatherings. Director, colorist without reservation, creator of an original human type, René Dessainte leaves us a rich and unforgettable body of work. Louis Richardeau, excerpt from the website quefaire.be