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Producer
Léon Louis Auguste Edouard Dardenne (°1865 - †1912)
Theme
nature
Legend
Léon Dardenne was asked to produce a document which was as realistic as possible and not the work of an artist. The propensity of the painter to depict the African landscape as it would appear in European eyes, at certain moments of the year, surprised Charles Lemaire who refuted any personal interpretation by the artist. In June 1901, Lemaire gave his opinion to the members of the Cercle Artistique [Artists' Circle] who wanted an exhibition of the work of Léon Dardenne. Regarding the ravages of the bush fires as depicted in this painting, he commented: "Our artistic friend claimed to find in this spectacle (vast bush plains where only ash remains after grass fires) similar impressions seen in Belgium at the end of autumn when nature is about to fall asleep. The sweet melancholy of these last, lovely days of the year and this terrible thing which is the death and destruction of central Africa seem to make a similar impression on our friend. I must contest this strange abandon of reason to rectify an impression which is far removed from reality and not allow him to render in this painting an effect which, in scientific terms, is and must remain alien to everyone", (Preface by Charles Lemaire in the exhibition catalogue of June 1910 to the Cercle Artistique).
Inscription
Nr 14 Dardenne Léon 99
Date of acquisition
1911
Dimensions
21 cm x 36 cm
Technique
graphic arts > painting > oil colour
Inventory number
HO.0.1.132
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