Francis Bonaert

While at Maredsous, he started taking photographs under the guidance of Father Attout OSB using a Leica (Leitz).

An interest in shape and form led him to study architecture at the Institut Saint-Luc, in Brussels, from which he graduated in 1940.

The plans were not executed, but used the same ideas as those that gave birth to the Guggenheim Museum in New York City.

During this period he was influenced by Edmond Moulu, who was making photos of Orval Abbey on new Gevalux paper, and applied this technique to two types of subject: portrait and scenery.

He also worked in 1942–43 under the supervision of the architect Oscar Goffart, where he was trained in attention to detail in design.