Student Artwork Guide

Name Class Date

Luc Tuymans, Secrets (1990). Reproduced for reference; rights reserved by the rights holder. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist: Luc Tuymans artsdot.com/en/artists/luc-tuymans/
Artist’s dates: 1958 –
Painted: 1990
Original size: 52 x 37 cm

Copyright This work is treated as still under copyright. Luc Tuymans was born in 1958 and has no recorded death date; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death. The image is shown here for classroom reference; rights remain with the rights holder.

Secrets — Luc Tuymans

How big is it?

The original measures 52 × 37 cm (height × width), drawn here beside an adult of average height.

When was this painted?

1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span, counting 0 from birth.

Painted when the artist was 32. 13 of the 59 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.

▲ this work, 1990 every dated painting, decade by decade

First works: up to 1990 Main working years: 1990–2002 Late works: from 2002

Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them

Compare with

Solitude, 1990 artsdot.com/en/art/luc-tuymans-solitude-8XYFUM-en/
Eyes Without a Face, 1990 artsdot.com/en/art/luc-tuymans-eyes-without-a-face-8XYFUE-en/
The Servant artsdot.com/en/art/luc-tuymans-the-servant-8XYFW6-en/

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: artsdot.com/en/art/similar/luc-tuymans-secrets-8XYFUT-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

Main colour

Gray #746b67

Catalogued palette

#746B67
#211E2A
#93867E
#39363D

These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

Main colour name: Gray
Intensity: Monochromatic How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
Contrast: Gentle How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
Harmony: Strong Color Unity How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
Brightness: Deep_shadow How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
Saturation: Muted How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

Where in the world is this painting looked at?

under 1%
1–3%
3–8%
8–20%
20% and over

This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Luc Tuymans over the last twelve months — 6 countries in all. Where these figures come from

The ten leading countries

1 China 53.3%
2 Switzerland 30.0%
3 Czechia 6.7%
4 Belgium 3.3%
5 South Korea 3.3%
6 Poland 3.3%

Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

The 20 most looked-at works by Luc Tuymans

1 Soldier, 1999 26.5%
2 Suspended, 1989 8.8%
3 Still Life, 2002 8.8%
4 Auschwitz, 1978 5.9%
5 The walk, 1993 5.9%
6 The time, 1988 5.9%
7 Flowers, 1993 2.9%
8 Dough 2.9%
9 G. Dam, 1978 2.9%
10 The time, 1988 2.9%
11 The time, 1988 2.9%
12 The time, 1988 2.9%
13 Bloodstains, 1993 2.9%
14 Dirty road, 2003 2.9%
15 Orchid 2.9%
16 Parachutists, 1998 2.9%
17 Untitled, 1989 2.9%
18 Big Brother 2.9%
19 Against the Day II 2.9%
— Secrets, 1990 this painting 0.0%

Together these works take 99.5% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 71 works by this artist, of which 19 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month

Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

Artist

Luc Tuymans

Born in Mortsel, Belgium

Early Life and Influences

Born: Mortsel, Belgium (14 June 1958)

Family History: Tuymans' family history significantly shaped his perspective. His mother’s family was involved in the Dutch Resistance during World War II, while aspects of his father’s family had connections to Nazi ideology. This complex heritage fostered a deep interest in historical memory and moral responsibility.

Early Artistic Recognition: At age eight or nine, Tuymans won a drawing competition in Zundert, Netherlands, which solidified his commitment to art.

El Greco's Influence: A pivotal moment occurred during a summer holiday in Budapest where he encountered El Greco’s paintings. This experience profoundly impacted him and remains a significant influence on his artistic approach.

Education: He studied at the Sint-Lukasinstituut in Brussels (1976–79), followed by the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts Visuels de la Cambre, also in Brussels (1979–80), and then the Koninklijke Academie voor Schone Kunsten in Antwerp (1980–82). He later earned a degree in Art History at the Free University of Brussels (1982–86).

Artistic Development and Style

Transition to Painting: After experimenting with film and video, Tuymans returned to painting in the mid-1980s.

Signature Style: His work is characterized by a distinctive style of figurative painting based on preexisting imagery from various sources (photographs, films, media).

Muted Palette & Blurred Effect: He employs a restrained palette and intentionally blurs images, creating an effect reminiscent of fading memories or distant recollections. The blurring isn't achieved through wiping away paint but by applying strokes directly.

Themes Explored: Recurring themes include historical events (particularly World War II), moral complexity, and the power of imagery to both communicate and withhold meaning.

Series-Based Approach: Tuymans frequently works in series, allowing images to generate new ones and enabling continuous reformulation and analysis. He creates numerous drawings, photocopies, and watercolours before finalizing an oil painting, often completing a piece within a single day.

Major Works and Series

Gas Chamber (1986): A significant early work depicting the Dachau concentration camp, exploring themes of historical trauma and memory.

Heimat (1996): This series examines Flemish nationalism through seemingly stereotypical American imagery.

Mwana Kitoko: Beautiful White Man (2000): A politically charged series focusing on the state visit of King Baudouin of Belgium to the Congo in the 1950s, featuring a portrait of the king himself.

The Heritage Paintings: Explored themes related to American culture and identity following the Oklahoma City bombing.

Forever, The Management of Magic (2007-2009): A triptych series delving into the power of institutions like the Jesuit order, Walt Disney, and television reality shows.

Recognition and Historical Significance

Critical Acclaim: Tuymans is considered one of the most influential painters working today, recognized for his unique approach to figurative painting and exploration of complex themes.

Venice Biennale Representation: Represented Belgium at the Venice Biennale in 2001, further solidifying his international reputation.

Influence on Contemporary Art: He is a key figure among European figurative painters who emerged during a period when many believed painting had lost relevance.

Plagiarism Controversy and Resolution: A legal dispute regarding the use of a photograph as source material for one of his paintings was resolved through an out-of-court settlement, highlighting issues of artistic appropriation and parody.

Key Influences & Artistic Approach

El Greco: Early exposure to El Greco's work had a profound impact on Tuymans, influencing his approach to monumentality and emotional depth.

Mass Media Imagery: Tuymans draws heavily from photographs, film stills, and other mass media sources as the basis for his paintings.

Conceptual Underpinnings: His work is characterized by a conceptual rigor, exploring themes of memory, history, and representation through subtle shifts in perspective and technique.

Ambiguity & Restraint: Tuymans deliberately avoids overt narratives, opting instead for ambiguity and restraint to encourage viewers to actively engage with the artwork's meaning.

Where to read more

The artist Luc Tuymans artsdot.com/en/artists/luc-tuymans/
Similar works More works to compare artsdot.com/en/art/similar/luc-tuymans-secrets-8XYFUT-en/

Find this online

QR code linking to the download page for Secrets

artsdot.com/en/art/download/luc-tuymans-secrets-8XYFUT-en/

Cite this artwork

MLA: Tuymans, Luc. Secrets. 1990, https://artsdot.com/en/art/luc-tuymans-secrets-8XYFUT-en/
APA: Tuymans, Luc (1990). Secrets [Painting]. https://artsdot.com/en/art/luc-tuymans-secrets-8XYFUT-en/
Chicago: Luc Tuymans. Secrets. 1990. https://artsdot.com/en/art/luc-tuymans-secrets-8XYFUT-en/
Harvard: Tuymans, Luc (1990) Secrets. Available at: https://artsdot.com/en/art/luc-tuymans-secrets-8XYFUT-en/

Secrets — Luc Tuymans

Look closely

Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

What catches your eye first, and why?
Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
Our catalogue files this work under: symbols, men. Do you agree? What would you add, or take away?
Look back at Solitude (1990), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
Luc Tuymans was about 32 when this was made. What in it looks like the work of an artist at that stage?

Your response

Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

Questions & Answers

What are the dimensions of the original "Secrets" by Luc Tuymans?

The recorded dimensions of "Secrets" by Luc Tuymans are 52 x 37 cm. Reproductions can be ordered in other sizes while keeping the same proportions.

What aliases or alternate names does Luc Tuymans have?

Luc Tuymans appears under the alternate names Luc.

What color intensity does "Secrets" by Luc Tuymans have?

The colors in "Secrets" by Luc Tuymans have a monochromatic intensity.