Michel Stoffel
Encyclopedia
Michel Stoffel was a Luxembourg
artist and author. He also worked for a time in the insurance sector. Together with Joseph Kutter
, he is considered to be one of Luxembourg's most prominent painters.
, central Luxembourg. In 1913, his family moved to Liège
where he attended primary and secondary school, although he completed his schooling in Luxembourg at the Lycée de Garçons in Limpertsberg
. From 1919, he took a correspondence course at the Ecole Universelle de Dessin in Paris and, after working in the insurance business for a few years, he completed his studies at the Weimar Academy of Fine Art in 1933.
in 1936 and becoming president of the Cercle artistique de Luxembourg
in 1939. After the Second World War
, together with other Luxembourg artists, he exhibited in the Salon d'Automne des Artistes lorrains in Nancy (1945) and also held an exhibition of his own paintings at the Galerie Bradtké in Luxembourg (1946). In 1948, he participated in the Salon d'Art moderne et contemporain in Liège
.
It was in 1950 that he first started to paint in the geometric style of abstract art, leading him in 1954 to be one of the founding members and spokesman of the Iconomaques
, a group of Luxembourg artists devoted to abstract art. In 1956, he received an honorable mention at the fourth São Paulo Art Biennial
. He completed two mosaics for Luxembourg's Nouvel Athénée in 1962 and became a member of the arts and literature section of Grand Ducal Institute
.
Michel Stoffel died in Luxembourg City on 29 March 1963. To mark the centenary of his birth, in 2003 Luxembourg's National Museum of History and Art
held an exhibition of his work: Rétrospective Michel Stoffel 1903–1963.
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
artist and author. He also worked for a time in the insurance sector. Together with Joseph Kutter
Joseph Kutter
Joseph Jean Ferdinand Kutter is considered one of Luxembourg's most important painters. He was greatly influenced by the Impressionists but developed his own distinctive Expressionist style.-Early life:...
, he is considered to be one of Luxembourg's most prominent painters.
Early life and education
Stoffel was born on 24 March 1903 in BissenBissen
Bissen is a commune and town in central Luxembourg, in the canton of Mersch. It is situated on the river Attert., the town of Bissen, which lies in the east of the commune, has a population of 2,871. Bissen is home to a steel factory, operated by Arcelor, the world's second-largest steel...
, central Luxembourg. In 1913, his family moved to Liège
Liège
Liège is a major city and municipality of Belgium located in the province of Liège, of which it is the economic capital, in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium....
where he attended primary and secondary school, although he completed his schooling in Luxembourg at the Lycée de Garçons in Limpertsberg
Limpertsberg
Limpertsberg is a quarter in north-western Luxembourg City, in the centre of Luxembourg.In the south, on the border with the main city is the Glacis, a large open air parking lot which hosts the annual Schueberfouer fair, the largest fair in the country...
. From 1919, he took a correspondence course at the Ecole Universelle de Dessin in Paris and, after working in the insurance business for a few years, he completed his studies at the Weimar Academy of Fine Art in 1933.
Artistic career
While working in the insurance sector, founding a company of his own in 1934, he also continued to paint, winning the Prix Grand-Duc AdolphePrix Grand-Duc Adolphe
The Prix Grand-Duc Adolphe is a Luxembourgian art award awarded every year to one or more artists exhibiting at the Salon Artistique of the Cercle artistique de Luxembourg ....
in 1936 and becoming president of the Cercle artistique de Luxembourg
Cercle artistique de Luxembourg
The Cercle artistique de Luxembourg or CAL, founded in 1893 as Cercle artistique luxembourgeois, is an association which brings together artists of all types with a view to supporting artistic work and art education in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg....
in 1939. After the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, together with other Luxembourg artists, he exhibited in the Salon d'Automne des Artistes lorrains in Nancy (1945) and also held an exhibition of his own paintings at the Galerie Bradtké in Luxembourg (1946). In 1948, he participated in the Salon d'Art moderne et contemporain in Liège
Liège
Liège is a major city and municipality of Belgium located in the province of Liège, of which it is the economic capital, in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium....
.
It was in 1950 that he first started to paint in the geometric style of abstract art, leading him in 1954 to be one of the founding members and spokesman of the Iconomaques
Iconomaques
Iconomaques is the name of a group of Luxembourg artists who moved away from figurative art in order to promote abstract art. Created in 1954, the founding members were Will Dahlem, Henri Dillenbourg, François Gillen, Emile Kirscht, Joseph Probst, Wenzel Profant, Michel Stoffel and Lucien Wercollier...
, a group of Luxembourg artists devoted to abstract art. In 1956, he received an honorable mention at the fourth São Paulo Art Biennial
São Paulo Art Biennial
The São Paulo Art Biennial was founded in 1951 and has been held every two years since. It is the second oldest art biennial in the world after the Venice Biennial , which serves as its role model....
. He completed two mosaics for Luxembourg's Nouvel Athénée in 1962 and became a member of the arts and literature section of Grand Ducal Institute
Grand Ducal Institute
Grand Ducal Institute is the national academy of Luxembourg, and is based in Luxembourg City in the south of the country.The Institute incorporates six subsections, each dedicated to a separate field of academic research:...
.
Michel Stoffel died in Luxembourg City on 29 March 1963. To mark the centenary of his birth, in 2003 Luxembourg's National Museum of History and Art
National Museum of History and Art
The National Museum of History and Art , abbreviated to MNHA, is a museum located in Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. It is dedicated to displaying artworks and artefacts from all epochs of Luxembourgian history...
held an exhibition of his work: Rétrospective Michel Stoffel 1903–1963.