national prize for painting

In 2025, the City of Ypres will organize the tenth National Prize for Painting – Louise Dehem, which is held every five years . This prize aims to stimulate young artists who are active in painting.

One of Ypres' most important artists is Louise Dehem, daughter of a modest textile merchant. Her older sister is married to the Ypres painter Théodore Ceriez (1831–1904), a teacher at the Ypres Academy. He discovers Louise's talent for drawing and painting. But the art academy is exclusively for boys. Louise can go to her brother-in-law. He teaches her the basic techniques for drawing and painting.

At the age of 19, Louise exhibited a painting in Spa. A year later, she studied art in Brussels and in 1887 she moved to Paris, where she studied with the famous master Alfred Stevens (1823–1906) and at the Académie Julian. She received scholarships from the city of Ypres.

In 1891 Louise returns. She receives commissions for realistic portraits of wealthy families from Ypres and the surrounding area. She makes sensitive works of art from these, sparkling with colours. In her more personal work she testifies to the poverty, social injustice and traditions in her environment, vividly and realistically. Pastel is her favourite technique.