Monique Baudaux (Belgian 1931 - 2009); pastel on paper; 17 x 12 in; Monique Baudaux was born in Belgium and was attracted to painting at an early age. She graduated in Brussels at the Institut Normal Provincial de Dessin and later received guidance from her master teacher, Raoul Labarre. Newspaper critics were unanimous in recognizing her great talent and inborn abilities in the field.
Her first two exhibitions consist of a one-woman show at the famous Gallery Albert in Brussels, followed by a group show at the gallery Ptah together with such prominent Belgian artists as Haine, Howet, Labarre, and Van Riet. Both shows were big successes and helped spread her fame throughout Belgium. In 1959, her work entitled Interieur Sombre was sold to the Ministry of National Education and Culture in Brussels. A year later, the government provincial of Brabant acquired her painting, Autoportrait. For the following years, Baudaux experienced artistic success in Canada and, since 1968, in the United States. She brought with her a reputation of a master portraitist, landscapist, and an expert with still life paintings. The creative output of this gifted artist shows charm, gentleness, and strength. Her love of people is demonstrated in her portraits, especially in those of children. Her portraits combine an astonishing likeness of the sitter, with beautifully executed brushstrokes.

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