Convent and girls' school

Montigny, born in Ghent, painted the kindergarten in Deurle. She made a name for herself with feminine themes such as motherly love and childhood joy. Jenny Montigny fled to London during the First World War. On her return, she was completely captivated by school life in the small town of Deurle near Ghent. She portrayed the life around the Sint-Jozefsschool in all shades: "The playground in Deurle", "The class in Deurle", "Children on the schoolyard in Deurle", "Children with nun in the school in Deurle", "Leaving school in winter" and "Orchard in bloom with schoolchildren". Montigny lived less than a kilometre from the village school and often painted "en plein air". She has painted many growing children several times. Older villagers from Deurle later recognized themselves in the cheerful children of that time. At a later age, Montigny began an affair with Emile Claus, 26 years her senior, the man with whom she had learned to paint in the open air before she was twenty and in whose studio she had often taken courses.

"The kindergarten in Deurle" by Jenny Montigny hangs in the Museum of Deinze and the Lys Region (Mudel) in Deinze.

The Sint-Jozefsschool was built in 1865 under the patronage of Saint Joseph together with a monastery in a striking distinguished villa style. Catholic education was given there by the nuns of the Order of Saint Vincent à Paulo. In Deurle they were known as the Sisters of Charity. Montigny painted them with their typical costume of habit and impressive hood.

Pascal Brackman