Maison aux Toiles (House of Canvas), Belgium

Many of the artist’s paintings shown here feature representation of nude female models.

Maison aux Toiles was once the house of a prolific painter, filled with his works of art. The name translates to “House of Canvas”. Located in Belgium, the house is also known as Rubens Huisje. After the painter died in the late 2000s, the house was left empty. It was eventually cleared and sold in 2019, and is no longer a lost place.

We visited Maison Aux Toiles during the Belgium July 2017 – Control Rooms and Churches Tour. Thank you to the painter’s son, who let us visit and shared his wonderful stories with us.

History of Maison aux Toiles and the prolific Painter

Historical maps show a farm on the site since at least 1780, surrounded by fields. The house came into the lives of the painter’s family in the late 1800s. The husband and wife worked the farmland, living here with three children.

The painter lived in the house from the late 1970s. He was the oldest of nine children. In his own words, he was born “among the paint pots” and adored painting even in his childhood.

By the age of 14 he moved to the nearby city, to attend an art academy. Here he focussed on studio work, painting models. After he completed his schooling he returned to his village, here he earned his living as a house painter. He married a beautiful lady from a nearby village, and had two sons.

As the years went on, he became a teacher in the nearby city. He taught painting and wallpapering. In his spare time he would return to his village home, restoring it single -handidly. The plan was for himself and his wife to retire here, to enjoy the peace and quiet.

Then, retirement arrived. He made wine and grew fruit and vegetables at the little house he has restored. It is during this stage of life he began to paint again. He would paint for hours at a time at the Maison Aux Toiles. Over the years, a sense of morbidity crept into his paintings. Skeletons and darker imagery started to shown in his artwork.

The death of the painter

The painter died in 2009, aged 80. The two son’s could not decide what to do with Maison Aux Toiles, and the paintings inside. I understand there may have been conflict regarding sale of the fathers works. Unfortunately, several years later burglars stole all the valuables. Over the years, explorers had frequented the house. It seems that some took souvenirs, and some paintings and items disappeared during this time.

Eventually, one of the sons had an idea to protect the house. He allowed permission visits to interested photographers, in exchange for a surprise gifts (preferred) or a small fee.

Sale and demolition of Maison aux Toiles in 2019

Finally, Maison Aux Toiles was prepared for sale summer of 2019. The house was cleared, and images were circulated online to make it clear that permission visits would no longer be possible (or of interest). Prior to sale, a collector in the Netherlands purchased most of the remaining paintings. It is hoped that he will restore them and display the collection. In the end, there is a happy ending to the artworks.

The house itself, may be destined for a less happy ending after it was sold in November 2019. Apparently the new owners plan to demolish it, but the house still remains on Google maps as of writing this article (April 2021).