1970s Brutalist "Rainy Day" R. Richèse Brass Wall Art

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The artwork is a Belgium three-dimensional composition crafted primarily from patinated brass and copper which is characteristic of the brutalist design movement of the sixties and seventies. The detail and workmanship of the metal is incredible featuring two trees with pronged branches, a lamppost with two sets of three people walking along together holding three umbrellas between them.  A three-pronged brass arrow supports the sculpture.  In good vintage condition.

Richard Julien van Hauwaert was a versatile Belgian visual artist and designer who operated primarily out of his studio in the Sint-Kruis district of Bruges. He is most widely recognised by his professional pseudonym, Richard Richèse, a name he chose as a play on the French word for wealth to mirror the high-end, luxurious nature of his creations.  The composition is signed R. Richèse.  Throughout the mid-20th century, he established himself as a prominent figure in the European modern and Brutalist movements, blending industrial techniques with narrative, often poignant subject matter.

His artistic output was remarkably diverse, ranging from small-scale figurative bronze sculptures to large, complex wall art and designer lighting. He achieved international fame for his production of gilded palm tree lamps, which were heavily influenced by the glamour of Maison Jansen and Maison Charles and remain highly sought after by collectors of Hollywood Regency and mid-century modern décor. These lamps often featured intricate, hand-finished metal fronds that captured the same textural detail seen in his more traditional sculptural work.

In his Bruges atelier, van Hauwaert specialised in sand-cast bronze, a traditional method that resulted in unique, one-off pieces because the molds were typically destroyed during the casting process. His wall sculptures, such as the Rainy Day at the Bus Stop series, often utilized torch-cut brass and copper to create layered, three-dimensional scenes. These works are frequently compared to the output of the American collective Curtis Jeré due to their shared Brutalist aesthetic and focus on everyday, atmospheric moments. Whether creating modern crucifixes or stylised human figures, his work was characterised by a distinct handmade quality, with each piece bearing his hand-incised signature as a mark of authenticity.

This is one of two wall sculptures on the Retro Living website by the same designer.

Dimensions:  Width: 47cm Depth: 9cm Height: 55cm




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