Studioflat Jozef Peeters

Jozef Peeters

Antwerp, De Gerlachekaai 8

1930 – 1935

Artist en architect

This blogpost brings back memories. A long time ago I studied architecture in Antwerp. Since I was not good at the practical side of the profession and a work on the symbolism in the Antwerp churches wasn’t going well either, something else came my way. The thesis I worked out was entitled “The Circle of ‘Moderne Kunst’ and its influence on the development of early Modernism in Antwerp”. The founder of this circle was Jozef Peeters (1895-1960), a versatile artist. The aim of the “Moderne Kunst” circle was to get to know everyone about the new developments in the different areas of cultural life. Among other things, conferences were organized, with foreign speakers such as J.J.P. Oud. Architects Huib Hoste and Edward Van Steenbergen were members of the circle, and sculptors Oscar Jespers and Joris Minne also had a membership card.

Studioflat

Jozef Peeters, just like Huib Hoste, was interested in color in the interior. According to Peeters, colors must be part of the architecture. The only example that remains of him is his own apartment. He stopped painting around 1925 to educate and teach his daughter and son. Unfortunately, his wife Godelieve became paralyzed five years later by multiple sclerosis. Jozef designed custom furniture for his wife and toys for the children. During this time he also started painting the apartment. Everything is included in the painting: the windows, the doors and even the ceiling. Everything has been preserved by his daughter Godelieve, who donated the whole apartment to the Letterenhuis with the condition that it became visitable.

Visit the apartment

Every 1st Saturday of the month you can follow a guided tour  Thursday is reserved as a visiting day for groups. More information on the website of the KMSKA.

This is living in a painting.(Michel Seuphor)