Louise Haerens Robelus | Belgian, 1884-1961

Born Louisa Robelus in Gand in 1884, the artist married Robert Haerens, changing her name to Haerens Robelus. She grew up in an intellectual climate, encouraged to to draw by her mother. She adored drawing kittens and adult cats, the world of cats was her inspiration.

In 1914 after an exhibition of her drawings at the Cinquantenaire Park in Brussels her talent was noticed by the press and the then Queen Elisabeth, who was to become her patron. By chance she met the sculptor Albert Hager (1857-1940) who introduced her to modelling techniques and sculpture. She learned to eliminate the superfluous and keep the essential form and volume.