Frans Van Kuyck


Frans Pieter Lodewijk van Kuyck was a Belgian painter and graphic artist. He is also known for helping to establish Mother's Day in Belgium.

Life and career

He came from a family of artists. His father was the painter. His grandfather was also a painter and his son was the architect Walter Van Kuyck. He studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts and his first well-known work was the official poster for the Exposition Universelle d'Anvers.
Later, as a teacher at the Academy, he became involved in the cultural and political life of Antwerp. In 1888, he became a provincieraadslid and, from 1891, served as an Alderman of Fine Arts on the Antwerp City Council. He also sat on the boards of several museums, including what is now the Plantin-Moretus Museum, and was chairman of the "Koninklijk Kunstverbond Antwerpen". During his time in office, the Vlaamse Opera Company was officially established and monuments were erected for Peter Benoit, Hendrik Conscience and Jan Van Rijswijck. On his initiative, the city acquired Schoonselhof cemetery and created the Nachtegalen Park. He was also the driving force behind the purchase and restoration of the "Vleeshuis". In addition, he oversaw the beautification and expansion of the Leysstraat in 1898.
In the Summer of 1913, he wrote a pamphlet, De Dag der moeders and formed the first committee to promote its establishment as an official holiday.

Illustrations & writings