Albert Vloeberghs (1912-1987)
‘s Hertogenmolens
1936
oil on canvas
exhibition Oogst, 1937
Albert Vloeberghs – Architect
A. Vloeberghs was thus only two years old when the Germans invaded Aarschot. His parents fled with him and withdrew abroad. They settled in the south of England. There he grew up quietly, and he was a nice boy. Drawing seemed innate to him: from the age of 5 – 6 he scribbled and drew all over everything: anything that came to hand served to imitate little men and animals, and after a short time this no longer seemed like trifling, no longer like child’s work, so that it aroused general admiration. From his earliest youth drawing was his greatest passion; he could occupy himself with it for whole days and thought of no children’s games.
Back in Aarschot – after the armistice – the only thing he did, outside school hours, was draw, nothing but draw. At the age of 9 he went to follow the lessons of the municipal Drawing School, and there he liked it better than at school.
Needless to point out that he made rapid progress and that the teacher was extremely pleased with him. On leaving the drawing school at the age of 15 he obtained a brilliant result. He then completed his last year at the secondary school. And then, at 16, he goes to the Academy of Fine Arts in Leuven. There he is in his element: drawing and painting is in him, day and night he wanted to practise, he works and studies without pause and … his extraordinary effort is richly rewarded. Year after year he carries off the 1st prize at the Leuven Academy.
His zeal for study knew no bounds. Not satisfied with the lessons in painting and architecture at the Academy, he also went to improve his skills at the Leuven trade school in the painting of wood and marble. Here too, at the end of his studies, he was awarded diplomas and the highest distinction.
Our vigorous fellow townsman is also a lover of natural beauty; he knows how to find beautiful and charming nooks in and around Aarschot and bring them to the canvas. During his studies and now still sometimes, one sees him setting off with his easel to his chosen spot, to mix and grind colours there quietly and with a connoisseur’s eye, in order to render the enchanting landscape faithfully.
Several small paintings by him already adorn many a townhouse.
In architecture he won in succession, in the last two years, the Gold Medal of the city of Leuven; in the last year, 1936, he also received, together with the diploma of architect, the Silver Medal of the Government.
Albert Vloeberghs has established himself as an architect in his native town, in the Fabriekstraat. Although he has only just begun and although there is no shortage of architects in Aarschot, our young architect has already had the opportunity to give several samples of his knowledge: many a beautiful, finely composed house can already be admired that bears witness to it.
By their fruits you know the tree. His works speak for him, and perhaps our young, capable architect Albert Vloeberghs is heading for a brilliant future, which we wish him with all our heart.
As samples of the art of our young, promising fellow townsman we were able to admire at the Oogst 1937 exhibition: besides plans and drawings, the following paintings:
- Orleans Tower
- Watermill
- Nieuwstraat 19
- Church Park
- Church Lock
- Schoonhoven
- Maiden Tower – Sichem
- Self-portrait
- Pen drawing – Demerkan
