The Life and Art of Hendrik Strick
Hendrik Strick was a Belgian painter and teacher born in Borgerhout. He studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, where he was a student of Juliaan De Vriendt and Isidore Opsomer. In 1914, he was awarded the city prize, though the outbreak of the First World War prevented him from executing the commissioned mural. During the war, he served as a volunteer in England and France, spending the final two years of the conflict in the trenches. These experiences contributed to the dark colors found in his paintings. Beyond his painting, Strick was a violinist who worked at the Opera of Antwerp from 1920 to 1930 and also built violins.
Artistic Style and Subject Matter
Strick's work evolved from impressionism toward a personal style characterized by sobriety and a deep sense of empathy for his subjects. His palette shifted over time; during somber periods, he produced dark paintings such as Overpeinzing (1951), while his later work often sought harmony through lighter tones. He frequently explored the reflection of light or unique perspectives, as seen in Blonde Dame (1941). While he experimented with abstract elements involving line and color planes in the 1960s, he ultimately returned to figurative art. His repertoire included:
His notable works include Blonde Woman, which is held in the collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp.
