Theo Van Rysselberghe
"Mrs. H. Aubry, 1907"
THEO VAN RYSSELBERGHE
Gent 1862-1926 Saint-Clair, Var
PORTRAIT OF MRS. H. AUBRY
1907
Oil on canvas
81 x 65 cm.
Signed and dated: middle left with monogram 'April 07'
Provenance: Kunsthandel Kupperman, Amsterdam; Sotheby's, Amsterdam, 13-12-1999; Campo & Campo, Antwerpen, 18-10-1998; Me Cousin, Les Andelys, France, 9-12-1990.
Literature: Ronald Feltkamp, Théo van Rysselberghe Catalogue raisonné, Brussel (Editions Racine) 2003, p. 367, no. 032 (ill.); G. Van Zype, Notice Théo van Rysselberghe, in: Annuaire de l'Académie Royale de Belgique, Bruxelles, 1932.
Exhibited: Théo van Rysselberghe, Bernheim-Jeune, Paris 27-4-1908-9-05-1908, 'Eurantica', Bruxelles, 2001.
The pointillism of Georges Seurat meant a lot to the Belgian painter Theo van Rysselberghe. He incorporated the theory of separation of tonal colours in pure colour spots, the stippling technique and especially the strict compositional technique to a personal painting style. His own pointillism was more a matter of controlled brushstrokes, in dots and spots, and he remained using tonal colours. Of all the themes treated by Van Rysselberghe, the human figure was the most popular. Throughout his life he would immortalize many friends and acquaintances.