Jean-Jacques Gaillard

Jean-Jacques Gailliard, born in Brussels in 1890, was a notable Belgian artist known for his diverse and evolving style. The son of impressionist painter Franz Gailliard, he received his initial artistic training from his father, growing up in an environment rich with artistic and musical influences. Gailliard furthered his education at the Academy of Brussels, where he studied under prominent artists such as Emily Fabry, Guillaume van Strydonck, Jean Delville, and later, sculptor Pieter Braecke.

Gailliard’s early works reflected a spiritualistic inclination, blending symbolism with pointillism. As his career progressed, his style became more abstract, and he joined the avant-garde movement, becoming a member of the Salon des Indépendants in Paris between the World Wars. By 1928, he returned to figurative art, developing a style he termed "surimpressionism," which aimed to capture the reality behind visible reality. This period marked his use of text alongside figures in his works.
He passed away in Sint-Gillis in 1976, leaving behind a legacy of artistic exploration and innovation.