Alfred Ost

Alfred Ost (14 February 1884, Zwijndrecht – 9 October 1945, Antwerp) was a Belgian designer, watercolorist, illustrator, painter, draftsman and political cartoonist. After his first drawings, of a descriptive realism of animals and genre scenes, he addressed religious themes transposed into a contemporary popular context. He became known as an animal painter and poster designer. His war experiences, intensified by his bipolar disorder, caused a dark coloring and pessimistic themes to be introduced into his art works. During World War I (1914 to 1918) he lived in Amsterdam, where he was influenced by new avant-garde movements. He developed a personal style, first informed by his social engagement, and later by mystical themes.