Victor EECKHOUT was a Belgian painter from the 19th century specialising in genre paintings and orientalist scenes. Son of a painter, it was he who gave him his first artistic education.
In 1848, he participated in the Brussels Salon before moving to Tangier where he spent the rest of his life.
The belgian painter, draftsman and engraver best known for his orientalist paintings. Born in Antwerp, he trained in the art of painting under his father, Jacobus Josephus Eeckhout, an eminent Flemish painter who headed the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in The Hague.
A founding member of the Royal Belgian Society of Watercolorists, he made his debut at the Brussels Salon in 1848 and exhibited two paintings in 1863 at the Salon des Refusés, the same year that Monet exhibited the famous “Déjeuner sur l’herbe”, today now on display at the Musée d’Orsay. It is precisely in this French museum that Eeckhout’s work ‘Fantasia in front of Tangier‘ (1869) is kept, when he painted this work, as we can deduce from the title, he was already installed in Tangier where he arrived after a short stay in Paris between 1865 and 1866.
While he is primarily associated with Belgium, he spent some time in Tangier, where he was influenced by the local light, colors, and Orientalist themes that were popular among European artists in the 19th century.
During his stay in Tangier, Eeckhout produced works that depicted Moroccan landscapes, daily life, and local figures. His Orientalist paintings from this period reflect the fascination European artists had with North African culture, architecture, and people.
Artistic Style:
- Orientalist Influence: Like many European artists of his time (such as Eugène Delacroix and Jean-Léon Gérôme), Eeckhout was drawn to the exoticism of Morocco.
- Light & Color: Tangier’s luminous Mediterranean light influenced his palette, making his works vibrant and atmospheric.
- Genre Scenes: He often painted market scenes, street life, and portraits of Moroccans in traditional attire.
While not as famous as some of his contemporaries, Eeckhout’s works from Tangier provide a valuable European perspective on 19th-century Morocco. His paintings can be found in Belgian collections and occasionally appear in auctions.
He lived in Tangier until his death and specialised exclusively in orientalist painting, in Tangier he also met Jean-François Portaels, considered the founder of the Belgian orientalist school.
