Description
This is an original Willy Kessels photo of Joris van Severen, the leader of Verdinaso.
In very good condition and rare to find.
A bit background: https://www.belgiumwwii.be/nl/belgie-in-oorlog/persoonlijkheden/kessels-willy.html
Willy Kessels (1898-1974) is today regarded as the most important representative of modernist photography in Belgium on the basis of an oeuvre that was created between 1929 and 1940. But over this fame hangs the shadow of a controversy about the artist’s political choices.
At the start of his career, Kessels was involved in a few left-wing projects. In 1933 he provided the set photography for “Misère au Borinage”, a film by Henri Storck and Joris Ivens. In 1935, however, he befriends Joris Van Severen. Kessels makes photo and film reports on the activities of the Verdinaso and is also the author of the iconic portrait of its leader. But photos by Kessels are also used in election printing by Paul Van Zeeland and by Rex.
Kessels remained active as a photographer during World War II, but he has now left modernism behind. He makes portraits of collaboration leaders. He also regularly visits his native region, the Scheldeland, and practices neo-romantic Heimat photography there. He is best known for a number of photo books, the first of which were published during the war. In Flemish nationalist circles they are praised for their ‘popular’ character.
After the war, Kessels was arrested on charges of collaboration. The original sentence (ten years’ imprisonment) is reduced to four years on appeal on June 13, 1947. After his release, Kessels can partially resume his activities, partly with the support of loyal friends, including ex-Verdinaso members Frantz Van Dorpe and Bert Peleman.
