Fernand Berckelaers, born in Antwerp in 1901, chose the artistic pseudonym Michel Seuphor (an ingenious code for Orpheus) in 1917. Throughout his remarkable career, he excelled as an artist, critic, poet, and writer, leaving a lasting mark on the art world.
In 1921, Seuphor launched the daring magazine ‘Het Overzicht’ in Antwerp. From 1922 onwards, he became a central figure in the European avant-garde movement. He collaborated with artistic giants like the Delaunay couple, Piet Mondrian, Fernand Léger, and the Arps (Hans and Sophie), who were instrumental in shaping movements like Cubism, Dada, Futurism, Constructivism, and Neo-Plasticism.
Seuphor settled in Paris in 1925 and co-founded ‘Cercle et Carré’ in 1929, a group dedicated to abstract art. As the group’s organizer, he played a key role in bringing together pioneering abstract artists like Schwitters, Kandinsky, Le Corbusier, and the aforementioned masters (Mondrian, Arp, Taeuber-Arp, and Léger) for exhibitions.
Seuphor’s artistic style later became known for its focus on a single medium: paper. He created intricate pen drawings using East Indian ink. Through a mesmerizing interplay of densely packed parallel lines, he explored deeper meanings by manipulating light and shadow to build abstract forms.
This revised version shortens the text while keeping the key information. It also uses more engaging language and emphasizes Seuphor’s significant contributions.
