Biography
Maurice-Emile Blieck, born on 27 December 1878 in Saint-Josse-ten-Noode and died on 24 July 1905, was a Belgian engraver and treasurer of the municipality of Schaerbeek. Son of Emile Blieck, a clerk from Ypres, and Elisa Wiquelin, he married Marie-Bertha Denayer on 24 July 1905 in Schaerbeek, with whom he had a son, René Blieck.
In 1913, Maurice-Emile Blieck gave up his position as treasurer to devote himself fully to his career as an artist. Already recognized for his talent in drawing, he specialized in engraving landscapes, cityscapes, and various prints such as menus and devotional prints. The same year, he published a file comprising 25 etchings on Ypres, followed by several engravings of the city destroyed after the war.
Around 1920, he put together a portfolio of etchings entitled *Quelques pièces du vieux Schaerbeek*. He also immortalized picturesque sites in various cities through engravings, including Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp, Mechelen, De Panne, Furnes, Dixmude, Houffalize, Laroche, Bastogne, Paris, Geneva, Nijmegen, Dordrecht, and Rotterdam.
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Maurice-Emile Blieck is renowned for his ability to capture the essence of urban landscapes and picturesque scenes through his delicate etchings. His work reflects a deep appreciation for architecture and landscapes, offering a valuable insight into places before and after the upheavals of war. In addition to his artistic activity, he teaches at the École des Arts Décoratifs in Schaerbeek, contributing to the training of future artists.
His legacy remains visible in the archives of prints of cities and landscapes he created, helping to preserve and celebrate the beauty of the places he depicted.
