Octave Maus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Octave Maus
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Portrait of Octave Maus by Théo van Rysselberghe, 1885
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| Born | 12 June 1856 Brussels, Belgium
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| Died | 26 November 1919 (aged 63) Brussels, Belgium
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| Known for | Art critic, writer, lawyer |
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Octave Maus (born June 12, 1856 – died November 26, 1919) was a Belgian art critic, writer, and lawyer. He played a very important role in the art world of his time, helping to promote new and exciting art movements.
Contents
Early Life and Career
Octave Maus was born in Brussels, Belgium. He studied law and became a lawyer, but he also had a great passion for art. He believed in supporting artists who were trying new things.
Maus worked closely with another writer and lawyer named Edmond Picard. Together with Victor Arnould and Eugène Robert, they started a weekly magazine called L'Art moderne in 1881. This magazine was a place where they could share their ideas about modern art and discuss new artists.
Les XX and Exhibitions
In 1884, Octave Maus became the secretary of a new art group called Les XX (which means "The Twenty"). This group was made up of artists who wanted to show their work outside of traditional art galleries.
As secretary, Maus was in charge of organizing their yearly art shows. These exhibitions were very important because they introduced many new and modern artists to the public.
Founding La Libre Esthétique
After nearly ten years, Octave Maus suggested that Les XX should end. He felt it was time for something new. So, in 1894, he started a new group called La Libre Esthétique (which means "The Free Aesthetic").
This new group continued the work of Les XX, promoting modern art and organizing exhibitions. It became a very influential part of the art scene in Belgium.
Friendships and Influence
Octave Maus was friends with many artists and musicians. One of his lifelong friends was the composer Poldowski, who was the daughter of the famous violinist Henryk Wieniawski.
Poldowski even dedicated some of her songs to Octave Maus and his wife, Madeleine. In 1923, she organized a series of concerts in London called The International Concerts of La Libre Esthétique. These concerts attracted famous musicians like Arthur Rubinstein and Jacques Thibaud, showing how much influence Maus's ideas still had.
