Yvonne Serruys facts for kids

Yvonne Serruys (born March 26, 1873 – died May 1, 1953) was a talented artist from both France and Belgium. She was known for her sculptures and paintings. In 1920, she received a very important award called the Légion d'honneur, which is a high honor in France.

Who Was Yvonne Serruys?

Yvonne Serruys was born in a town called Menen in West Flanders, Belgium. Her family was well-off and spoke French. From a young age, she showed a passion for art.

Her Early Art Training

Yvonne began her art journey by studying painting and drawing. Her first teacher was a famous painter named Emile Claus. Later, from 1892 to 1894, she went to Brussels to learn more. There, she studied in the studio of Georges Lemmen, who was part of an important art group called Les XX (The Twenty). After this, she returned to study with Emile Claus again.

Becoming a Sculptor

After her studies, Yvonne traveled to Italy and Greece. These trips likely inspired her greatly. In 1898, she showed her paintings in Paris at a famous art show called the Salon. It was around this time that she made a big decision: she wanted to become a sculptor!

To learn sculpture, Yvonne went back to Brussels. She started new lessons with a sculptor named Égide Rombaux. In 1904, she moved back to Paris and opened her own art studio. She became very productive, creating about 250 sculptures and over 300 pieces made of glass.

Important Public Artworks

Yvonne Serruys was asked to create many public artworks. These included:

• A monument for her former teacher, Emile Claus, in Ghent, Belgium.
• A monument for a diplomat named Paul Cambon in Tunis.
• A war memorial in her hometown of Menen.

Her Life in Paris

Yvonne was very active in the social and artistic gatherings known as "salons." These were places where artists, writers, and thinkers met to discuss ideas. At one of these gatherings, she met Pierre Mille, who was a writer, journalist, and diplomat. They fell in love and got married in Menen in 1909. For many years, Yvonne and Pierre hosted their own popular salons in Paris.

Yvonne Serruys received important awards for her artistic achievements. In 1920, she was given the Légion d'honneur by France. In 1934, she was made an officer of the Order of Léopold by Belgium. These awards showed how much her work was valued.

Her Legacy

Yvonne Serruys passed away in Paris in 1953. In her will, she left many of her artworks to her hometown of Menen. Today, these works are kept and displayed at the local museum, called the Stadsmuseum nl:'t Schippershof. Her art continues to inspire people.

See also

• In Spanish: Yvonne Serruys para niños