Coastal Landscape near Aberystwyth

Executed in oil, the painting employs soft, blended brushwork characteristic of the Barbizon tradition, creating subtle gradations of tone. A limited palette of earth tones enhances the sense of depth, while the delicate handling of clouds and sea surface contributes to an overall atmospheric calm.

Created during the First World War, the canvas entered the National Library of Wales’s collection, where it remains accessible to scholars and the public. Its acquisition reflects the institution’s commitment to preserving works that document the cultural exchange between Belgium and Wales.

De Saedeleer was a leading figure in the first School of Latem, a group that introduced modernist ideas into early‑20th‑century Belgian art. Although rooted in Flemish landscape traditions, his work incorporates Symbolist and mystic‑religious sensibilities, situating this coastal scene within a broader European artistic dialogue.