Paul Joostens was born in
Belgium in 1886. He was an artist and poet. He studied at
the Institute of Fine Arts in Antwerp and was influenced by James Ensor.
He exhibited in 1917 in Antwerp and Brussels. He was a founding
member of the Dada movement, experimenting with collage and montage in
the style of Kurt Schwitters.
A biography of Joostens was
written by Georges Marlierin in 1923. He was part of the Dada Exposition
at the National Museum of Modern Art in Paris in 1966. He won many
prizes throughout his career and his work is in several museums
throughout the world. He died in Belgium in 1960.
Many of his drawings and paintings
showed up in New Orleans some years ago. I am not certain why but
there is some speculation that they were sent to a relative or friend
during World War II for safe keeping.
