edward woutermaertens (1819 - 1897)
Edward / Edouard Woutermaertens was a Belgian artist who specialized in the painting of scenes with animals, with a particular preference for sheep. He worked in a realistic style and depicted his animal subjects with a lot of detail and accuracy. His works were accepted at various leading official salons. Woutermaertens worked en plein air and often explored the Belgian coast region and especially the region of Veurne as the setting for his animal subjects. The landscape in his compositions does not function as a decorative element, but is a key part of the action. He paid great attention to the lighting to create a certain mood. His animals are typically depicted in an open landscape, which was suffused with sunlight, giving the animal scenes a fresh and natural appearance. In addition to sheep, he also painted dogs.
