Rik Wouters place of birth Mechelen
Early life
Hendrik Emil Wouters was born on 21 August 1882 in Mechelen, Belgium. His father, Emil Wouters, was an ornamental sculptor and his mother, Melania Daems, was a housewife. Wouters' mother died in 1888. After dropping out of school at age 12, he began working on wooden sculptures and furniture decorations in his father's workshop and developed a passion for the craft. It was here that he met and began working with fellow Mechelen-born sculptor Ernest Wijnants, who would remain a lifelong friend. In 1912, Wouters painted a portrait of his friend, entitled ‘Portrait of Ernest Wijnants’. Wouters also developed an interest in drawing, and practiced in his free time.
In 1897, aged fifteen, Wouters left his father's workshop in pursuit of a career as an artist and sculptor.
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