Catalogue

“A catalog! What’s the point! You who come to painting to see. Look, and you’ll see things differently than I do; you’ll perceive ‘the thing’ differently—but no matter; perhaps we’ll find common ground in the spirit of ‘the painted thing’ beyond the titles […]”
— Antoine Mortier (1985)

Foreword

This first part of the current catalog of Antoine Mortier’s work begins with a list of his oil and watercolor paintings, on canvas and on paper, using both a brush and a paintbrush—all with the aim of respecting the spirit of the artist’s approach, as he considered these works to be “reflective” of his deepest feelings.

The second section, currently in progress, includes all the works created using dry media on paper—pen, graphite pencil, charcoal, pastel, and ballpoint pen—as well as a few prints. It will be supplemented by a list of sculptures and a more unusual medium used in the body of work: textiles.

Access

The catalog is organized into several levels of access, designed to accommodate different uses. Open access allows users to view basic information about each work, including the title, year of creation, and medium.

More comprehensive access may be granted upon request, after initial contact. This allows users to view additional information. Finally, full access is reserved for institutions, such as museums or research organizations, in the context of documentary, scientific, or heritage projects.

Disclaimer

As of now, the various sections of this catalog are not exhaustive. The majority of the painter’s output consists of Untitled works, often from the same year and sometimes of identical dimensions. Only the images can attest to their creation and pinpoint when they were made.

Call

Thanks to the information you’ve provided, we’ve already been able to catalog more than 3,800 items, and this number is far from final. So please keep sharing this information with your fellow collectors and enthusiasts.

We would appreciate it if you could provide us with information about the works in your collection (images, dates, dimensions) so that we can complete this project. We assure you of our discretion.

Acknowledgments and Credits

Under the direction of Françoise Mortier, the artist’s heir and an art historian, this catalog was made possible. She extends her heartfelt thanks for their kind cooperation to:

• Camille Brasseur, art historian (ULB), manager of the Antoine Mortier Collection at the King Baudouin Foundation, and scientific director of the Paul Delvaux Foundation
• Marie Colebunders, art historian (VUB), thesis: Deconstructie van de contructie : De catalogue raisonné Casestudy : Antoine Mortier (1908-1999), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 2019–2020
• Jacky Maezele, volunteer at the Contemporary Art Archives Department
• Juliette Renard, art historian (UCL, University of Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne). AESS (ULB). Professor at the Institut royal supérieur d’histoire de l’art et d’archéologie in Brussels (IRSHAAB). Curator.
• the photographers for their archival images
• as well as collectors and art lovers, auction house representatives, galleries, and experts for their trust