Background
He was born in Marchienne-au-Pont, near Charleroi in Wallonia.
He was born in Marchienne-au-Pont, near Charleroi in Wallonia.
His style gradually evolved from impressionism and Belgian luminism to a synthetic form of capturing reality. In his later years, he came back to a personal form of impressionism. Verhaegen specialized in painting Walloon folklore: Carnival of Binche (he was soon recognised as the painter of "the Gilles of Binche"), Doudou of Mons, Giants of Ath, Chinelles of Fosses, Chaudia of Leernes, Pasqueye, and so on.
He also created a series of etchings devoted to the folklore in Wallonia.
In his book about this artist, Robert Magremanne has named him "the great master of the Walloon folklore". He died in Montigny-le-Tilleul in 1975.
Verhaegen"s works are in many museums of Belgium (Antwerp, Brussels, Charleroi, Ixelles, Liège, Mons) and abroad (Genève, Grenoble, Indianapolis).