10 artworks under €500 !?

“ART for €500 or less, you must be joking!?” we can hear you think, so let’s brush some preconceived notions aside straightaway: art lovers come in all shapes and sizes, and everybody must simply start somewhere.

You don’t need to have a Rembrandt hanging on your walls to be allowed to call yourself a serious and dedicated art collector (although we agree that it would be very nice), and the monetary value of your pieces is not necessarily a reflection of your taste, au contraire.

If you can manage to build a fine and quality collection that fits within your own lifestyle and budget, we consider you a creative genius!

Hence why Gallerease is proud to present an eclectic mix of exciting artworks from the online collection that won’t put you on a ration for the rest of the month, or year. Allow yourself to become pleasantly surprised:


1. A Bakthiari Carpet (1950’s)



_{Bakhtiari ca. 1950 - Foumani Persian Gallery}


The Bakthiari tribes from Iran have been weaving and exporting rugs around the world since the early 19th century. They are particularly well-known for their flowery designs, featuring Khesti garden motives and decorated fields with floral ornaments.

Prices of Bakthiari rugs and carpets vary mostly depending on the type of wool and subsequent knot density, with each tribe using a local and thus characteristic wool for their production.

This particularly fine example, offered by the Foumani Persian Gallery, was crafted around 1950 and may therefore be considered semi-antique.


2. Gong Dong, Birthmark



_{Gong Dong, Birthmark, (Edition 99) - Galerie Kunstbroeders}


Gong Dong’s (1977, China) touching sculptures present a broad category of reflections on a rich and emotional life. Sometimes these little figures are ecstatic, filled with energy, fantasy and humor, and sometimes they are subdued, left to contemplate their surroundings.

Dong himself was devastated by the loss of his father, followed by the joy of the birth of his children. He has beautifully captured these mixed emotions in his sculptures, and even though they are made of bronze and won’t come to life, you can’t help but feel a sense of compassion for them.


3. Ellen Jantzen, Harmonic Progression (2014)



_{Ellen Jantzen, Harmonic Progression, 2014 - Qlick Editions}


Jantzen’s work bridges the world of prints, photography and collage. Her background is almost as diverse; she started out with designing solar and energy efficient structures, followed by obtaining an advanced degree at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles.

After spending a few years in the corporate world as a senior product designer, she became disillusioned by the industry and took to photography as a more creative outlet. Jantzen uses her camera to capture staged assemblages and then manipulates them with digital technology, producing mesmerizing results.


4. Olivier Julia, Juxtaposition IV (2015)



_{Oliver Julia, Oliver Julia, JUXTAPOSITION IV, 2015 - Galerie NUMMER40}


French artist Olivier Julia (1952) studied graphic art at the well-known Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam. His early works comprise of mostly sober graphic and monumental drawings.

However, recently Julia has been exploring the three-dimensional possibilities of graphic art, creating abstract objects from wood and then painting them in his characteristic subdued colours.

This has resulted in dynamic pieces that focus on the interaction between several juxtapositions, such as closed versus open and light versus dark.


5. Hein Severijns, Ceramic Vase 17



_{Hein Severijns, Ceramic Vase 17 - Galerie Terbeek}


Hein Severijns produces delicate and unusually shaped porcelain vases that look like they drifted ashore from a shipwreck some centuries ago.

Their elegant yet characteristic appearances are formed by tiny, earthly coloured crystals that are tied together by a matt, silk glaze.

Through developing his own silk matte crystal acids, Severijns continues to search for perfection, dreaming of the one and only ‘ultimate’ vase that he will one day be able to produce.


6. Furniture Collections in the Louvre (1995)



_{Furniture Collection in the Louvre - Scriptum Art Books}


Over twenty years ago, France’s top expert curators and art historians Daniel Alcouffe, Anne Dion-Tenebaum, Amaury Lefebure and Bill Pallot published two volumes with more than 500 pages filled with glorious images and impeccable descriptions of the most exquisite furniture collection of the world.

The Louvre inherited all of France’s royal collections, making it indisputably the richest and most admired, after which it has frequently been enriched with prestigious objects that meet these original and extremely high standards.

Although not strictly an “artwork”, this clothbound book comes in a beautiful slipcase and provide’s the ultimate collector’s item.


7. José van Kleef, Owl in an Opening (2017)



_{José van Kleef, Uiltje uit opening, 2017 - Morren Galeries Utrecht}


José van Kleef paints the world as she sees it, but with a very distinct touch. Her human figures and animals have mysterious facial expressions and prying eyes, exuding a strange yet intriguing ambiance.

That ambiance is also partially down to her technique; van Kleef’s paintings actually start out as abstract colour compositions. Using a palette knife, the artist then forms her creatures out of the layers of deep colours, almost magically giving birth to these undefinable yet endearing beings.


8. Gold Romantic Victorian Wedding Bands (ca. 1850)



_{Gold Romantic Victorian wedding band with secret place for names and date, 1850 - Adin Fine Antique Jewellery}


These gold wedding bands were created during the first half of the 19th century. At first sight they appear to be quite plain, but after taking a second look they reveal a secret place for an engraving.

The two rings actually fit together to look like a whole when worn on one finger. Hence why they are described as “romantic”, inspired by love and dedication.

Made out of 18K red gold, they weigh 1.60 grams and still remain in an excellent condition.


9. Marc Chagall, Le Petit Ange (first half 20th century)



_{Marc Chagall, Le petit Ange - Arthouse Marc Chagall}


Unfazed by the endless amounts of stylistic –isms that developed during the 20th century, Marc Chagall (1887-1985) always remained true to his own signature ways, absorbing influences from all sides.

Much of the imagery in his work is based on European Jewish folk culture, a practice that was unpopular at the time. He was an extremely productive artist and thankfully much of his work can still be admired in museums and special collections all over the world.

Whereas Chagall’s grand paintings are slightly harder (and pricier) to come by, this small lithograph could actually be yours, making you the proud owner of a tiny masterpiece!


10. Sumaya Abdul Ghani, Untitled 2 (2014)



_{Untitled 2, Sumaya Abdul Ghani, 2014 - Artscoops}


Sumaya Abdul Ghani (Bahrain, 1970) seeks to promote Islam’s enlightening nature by creating rhythmic and organic patterns, using photography, collage and mixed media.

After conducting extensive research into morality and purity in religion, she became interested in the symbolic separation of good and evil. Her works fulfill an intrinsic need to promote the message of good deeds, by turning photographic images of these symbolic stones into attractive and delicate designs.

Abdul Ghani’s vernacular patterns symbolically eliminate negativity towards Islam and introduce the faith’s theological and philosophical beauty.


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