The Echo at The Fine Arts Museum in Ghent, Belgium

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Born in Mechelen, a renowned center for furniture making, Wijnants launched his career within this local industry. Equipped with this foundation in carving, he pursued his ambition to become an independent artist by enrolling in the Mechelen Academy of Fine Art and later in the Brussels Academy where he studied under Charles Van der Stappen. At the 1913 World Fair in Ghent Wijnants showcased Echo, his first work that demonstrated a truly original style combining modernism reminiscent of George Minne with delicate lines and intense focus on the feminine beauty of his model. This genre continued through the series of nudes he created for Frédéric Speth as his inspiration ranged from classical Greek sculpture to European Gothic becoming increasingly apparent. Through the 1920s and 1930s Wijnants solidified himself as one of Belgium's leading sculptors, earning teaching positions in Antwerp and, in 1938, was awarded the State Prize for Sculpture and Plastic Arts. This object is part of "Scan The World". Scan the World is a non-profit initiative launched by MyMiniFactory, creating a digital archive of fully printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from around the globe for public access. Scan the World is an open-source community effort; if you have interesting items nearby and want to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to find out how you can help. Scanned: Photogrammetry (Processed using Agisoft PhotoScan)