Lot 651 Rα

Rau Collection for UNICEF


This beautiful self-portrait shows the young, 25-year-old artist in a three-quarter view, with his head turned to the right. Lemmen was living in Brussels at the time, a city with a highly progressive art scene that attracted attention throughout Europe. He was a member of the avant-garde which comprised not only artists but also writers. In 1888 Lemmen became a member of the "Cercle des XX", an artists' association that vehemently opposed the academicism of the official salons, together with Henry Van de Velde and Auguste Rodin. This illustrious circle, which also included Fernand Khnopff and Théo van Rysselberghe, was a place where Lemmen integrated very quickly and for which he frequently published articles in the magazine called "L'Art Moderne".

By means of the pointillist technique all heaviness is taken away from the depicted subject. Its light airiness and avoidance of lines and areas give this unconventional portrait a certain immaterial aura and immense sensitivity. Moreover, there is a mysterious shimmer over the painting which, despite its tension, comes across as intimate and harmonious. The portrait combines both sensitivity and a perfectly liberal approach to art. Although it is very close to its live model, it is precisely its painterly distance that adds an element of mystery to this work of art.