Mol School

Around 1900, various painters from home and abroad came to Mol. The typical Kempen landscape and the easy accessibility by rail made our municipality popular with artists. They often stayed in Hôtel de Duc de Brabant on the Molse Markt. A number settled permanently in Mol.

The Mol School is the often used name for the large group of painters who came to Mol and its surroundings between 1880 and 1914 to paint Kempen landscapes and interiors. It was a coming and going, without organization or program. The word 'school' is therefore misleading. It is actually more correct to speak of 'Molse Schilderskolonie'. However, the term 'Molse School' is generally accepted.

Characteristic is the realistic or impressionistic style of these painters and the fact that they often worked outdoors. Stylistically this formed a late flowering of the Barbizon School from the mid-19th century.

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Jakob Smits' large network and his special charm and hospitality contributed to the attraction of the municipality of Mol with respect to the artists' field. Several artists wrote letters to Smits and stayed in his house in Mol-Achterbos.

Furthermore, the relationship between Smits and the Molse School is rather complex because Smits did not take on a leading role in this. The symbolism and pre-expressionism of Smits contrasts with the style of the Molse School. Smits also paints in his studio and not in the open air. However, Smits did contribute to the interest in the picturesque Kempen.

An important event within the Molse School was the International Art Exhibition in 1907. The group of participating artists was put together by Jakob Smits. Many of them belong to the Molse School.

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