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Galerie Oscar De Vos
Frits Van den Berghe (Ghent, 1883-1939) The companions, 1932 Oil on canvas 150 x 130 cm Signed lower right 'FVBerghe 32' Provenance: Alla and Bénédict Goldschmidt collection, Brussels Literature: Langui, Frits Van den Berghe en de jongere generatie, in: Kunst-Kultuur, yr. 1, 1940, p. 4; Van Hecke, Frits Van den Berghe, in: Les Peintres Contemporains, 1948, pp. 99-110, cat. 55; Van Hecke, A propos des deux expositions de Frits Van den Berghe, in: Les Arts plastiques, n° 5-6, 1948, pp. 240-242, pl. 55; Haesaerts, Sint-Martens-Latem. Gezegend oord van de Vlaamse kunst, 1965, n° 689; Langui, Frits Van den Berghe. Catalogue raisonné de son oeuvre peint (Bruxelles: Laconte, 1966), n° 396; Langui, Het Expressionisme in België, 1970, pl. 81, p. 128; Hoozee, Tahon-Vanroose & Bown-Taevenier, Frits Van den Berghe, 1983, p. 164; Boyens, Frits Van den Berghe, 1999, pp. 161, 233, n° 132; Boyens, Frits Van den Berghe, 1999, p. 290, n° 753; Pauwels, Als een fonkelenden spiegel, 2019, pp. 296-297 Exhibitions: Frits Van den Berghe en Joseph Cantré, 1933, Ghent, n° 6; Belgisk Konst, 1934, Stockholm, n° 204; Belgisk kunst - Belgisk utstillung av moderne kunst i Norge ordnet ved L'art contemporain i Antwerpen, 1934, Oslo, n° 204; Hedendaagse Belgische Kunst, 1937, Moscow & Leningrad, n° 9; Les Compagnons de l'Art, 1938, Brussels, n° 187; Deurle 6 July 1997 (The Deurle Conversation), 1997, Deurle; 1999, Ostend, Retrospectieve Frits Van den Berghe, n° 132
Maurice Verbaet Collection (MVC)
Marcel Mariën (Antwerp 1920-1993 Brussels) La Mire, circa 1981-83 Gelatin silver print on paper 18 x 12.5 cm (unframed) 33 x 43 cm (framed) Edition 2/6 Even before meeting the Brussels surrealists at the age of 17, Marcel Mariën (1920-1993) had taken his first steps in photography, having begun an apprenticeship with a photographer in Hoboken at the age of 15. During the 1940s, he began to use photography to create images with the bodies of the women he loved, but it was mainly from the 1980s onwards that he made frequent use of it. The photograph La Mire highlights the remarkable effectiveness of his creations, which, whilst appearing simple, reveal a wealth of meanings the moment one takes a closer look. It also demonstrates the extent to which photography enables Mariën to explore in greater depth the themes he develops in his objects, collages and writings. Indeed, his entire body of work is a reflection on the status of art. In this respect, he builds upon not only the concerns of the surrealists but also those of Marcel Duchamp. The Mona Lisa, the quintessential masterpiece of Western painting, was notably appropriated by Duchamp, who drew a moustache on it and added the inscription ‘L.H.O.O.Q.’ (‘Elle a chaud au cul’ or ‘She’s got a hot arse’) in 1919. Mariën takes this provocative critique of the mythicization surrounding this artwork a step further. The pubic hair encapsulates the moustache and inscription. It emphasizes the distance between the real woman and the painted one, whose identity has been forgotten whilst her depiction has become ubiquitous. The title refers to ‘la mire’ – that is, the image shown on television when channels were off the air –, an ever-present image that nobody looks at, much like the Mona Lisa, of which we have seen so many reproductions that we can no longer truly appreciate the real painting. But it also implies that ‘elle la mire’, which means ‘she is gazing at her’: it echoes Duchamp’s inscription, which can also be read as ‘look’. Furthermore, it plays on the belief that the Mona Lisa follows viewers with her gaze. Mariën presents the Mona Lisa as looking intently at the sex of the flesh-and-blood woman lying in front of her – in a perspective reminiscent of L’Origine du monde by Courbet. Perhaps his photograph enables us to better understand the reason behind the Mona Lisa’s famous mischievous smile?
Gallery Sofie Van de Velde
Georges Vantongerloo (Antwerp 1886-1965 Paris) Spiral with Certain Spots, 1946 Oil on masonite 73.8 x 58.8 cm Signed and dated: 'Spirale avec certaines taches Paris 1946 G. Vantongerloo' (title / verso) Provenance: Georges Baines collection (acquired directly from the artist); Bernard Baines; private collection, Switzerland; Galerie Ronny Van de Velde, Antwerp Literature: Georges Vantongerloo, Paintings, Sculptures, Reflections, in Problems of Contemporary Art n° 5, New York, 1948, n° 176, Wittenborn, fig. 44; Georges Vantongerloo: A Traveling Retrospective Exhibition, Corcoran Gallery of Art / Dallas Museum of Fine Arts / Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Loiseau, Brussels 1980, p. 146; Jan Ceuleers, Ronny Van de Velde, Georges Vantongerloo 1886-1965, Antwerp, OCNO, 1996-1997, n° 176, ill. p. 157; Serge Lemoine, Georges Vantongerloo (1886-1965). A Pioneer of Modern Sculpture, Musée Matisse, 2007, ill. p. 148; Larkin Erdmann, Five Years, Zurich, 2019, pp. 83-84; Ostend, Mu.ZEE, Belgium-Argentina. Transatlantic Modernisms, 1910–1958, 2022 Exhibitions: Paris, Palais des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris, 1st Salon des Réalités Nouvelles. Abstract Art, Concrete Art, Constructivism, Non-Figurative, July 1946; Zurich, Kunsthaus Zürich, Antoine Pevsner, Georges Vantongerloo, Max Bill, 15 October-13 November 1949, n° 78; Washington, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Georges Vantongerloo. A Traveling Retrospective Exhibition, 22 April-17 June 1980, n° 176 (later shown in Dallas and Los Angeles); Brussels, Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, Georges Vantongerloo 1886-1965, 23 January-16 March 1981, n° 176; Zurich, Kunsthaus Zürich, Georges Vantongerloo, 3 April-17 May 1981, n° 176; Antwerp, Ronny Van de Velde, Georges Vantongerloo 1886-1965, 15 December 1996-31 March 1997, OCNO n° 176; Barcelona, MACBA-Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona, Force Fields: Phases of the Kinetic, 19 April-18 June 2000, n° 232 (later at the Hayward Gallery); Le Cateau-Cambrésis, Musée Matisse, Georges Vantongerloo 1886-1965, A Pioneer of Modern Sculpture, 28 October 2007-2 March 2008 (later at Mu.ZEE); Madrid, Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Georges Vantongerloo: A Longing for Eternity, 3 November 2009-22 February 2010
Snackers Antiques & Fine Art
Louis Philippe mantel clock Paris, circa 1835 Produced by the clockmaker Douyon Partially fire-gilt and partially patinated bronze H 70 x W 75.5 x D 27 cm The goddess Victoria is depicted seated on a cushion, leaning against the clock and holding a laurel wreath. At her feet lie a caduceus and an anchor. Beneath the clock are ears of corn and fruit. The ears of corn and fruit signify abundance; the anchor symbolises fidelity; and the laurel wreath represents victory.
HELENE BAILLY MARCILHAC
Henri Martin (Toulouse 1860-1943 Labastide-du-Vert) La terrasse de Marquayrol au soleil du matin Oil on original canvas 65.4 x 92.4 cm Signed lower left 'Henri Martin' This work will be included in the forthcoming catalogue raisonné of Henri Martin’s work, currently in preparation by Marie-Anne Destrebecq-Martin
LUDORFF
Serge Poliakoff (Moscow 1900-1969 Paris) Composition abstraite, 1964-1965 Oil on canvas 73 x 60 cm Signed lower left The authenticity of this work is confirmed by Thaddée Poliakoff and the works is registered in the Archives Serge Poliakoff, Paris 2026 Literature: Alexis Poliakoff, 'Serge Poliakoff-Catalogue Raisonné', vol. II, 1955-1958, Paris 2010, n° 64-68 Provenance: Galerie Cavalero, Cannes; private collection, Europe (-1996); Sotheby's, London (26 June 1996, Lot 38); private collection (1996-2025)
Axel Vervoordt
William Turnbull (Dundee 1922-2012 London) Young Torso, 1981 Bronze 49 x 28.5 x 3 cm Edition of 6, AP 1/1 Provenance: the estate of the artist Literature: Amanda A. Davidson, The Sculpture of William Turnbull, The Henry Moore Foundation in association with Lund Humphries, 2005, cat. n° 205, ill. p. 154 William Turnbull (1922–2012) was one of the most distinctive sculptors and painters of post-war Britain. Throughout his career, he explored the enduring power of ancient and archaic art, seeking an elemental visual language that connects the distant past with the present. In Young Torso, Turnbull revisits the archetypal figures and totemic forms that fascinated him from the 1950s onwards. The simplified silhouette evokes prehistoric figurines and ancient idols, yet belongs to no specific culture or belief system. Both familiar and mysterious, the sculpture seems to speak a universal language whose meaning remains elusive. The warm brown patina and irregular surface suggest weathered stone, while delicate incisions recall tattoos or fragments of an unknown symbolic language. These markings animate the figure, hinting at lost rituals and traditions. Reflecting Turnbull’s sensitivity to surface, line and colour, the textured bronze combines tactile richness with formal simplicity. Neither an imitation of an ancient artefact nor a purely abstract form, Young Torso occupies a space between recognition and mystery. Through the encounter between archaic references and modern expression, Turnbull evokes humanity’s enduring desire to create forms that transcend time and preserve traces of our existence.
Galerie des Modernes
Geer Van Velde (Lisse 1898-1977 Cachan) Composition, circa 1950 Oil on canvas 80 x 85 cm Signed lower right with the artist’s initials Certificate of authenticity by Pierre-François Moget To be included in the forthcoming catalogue raisonné of the works of Geer van Velde currently in preparation by Pierre-François Moget Provenance: the artist’s studio, Cachan; private collection, The Netherlands; private collection, France
Alexis Lartigue
Max Ernst (Brühl 1891-1976 Paris) Paysage, 1964 Tempera and pencil on paper 8.4 x 15.5 cm Signed ‘Max’ below right Provenance: estate of the artist; Galerie Bel’Art, Stockholm; Sotheby’s sale, London; private collection, New York; collection of Dr. Arthur Brandt, New York; Sotheby’s sale, New York; private collection, Paris Literature: Spies, Werner. Max Ernst Oeuvre-Katalog, Werke 1964-1969, Cologne, 2007, n° 4095, ill. p. 127 Exhibitions: Stockholm, Galerie Bel'Art, Max Ernst, Retrospective, 1979; Boone, Turchin Center for the Arts, The Omnipotent Dream: Man Ray, Confluences and Influences, 2003, ill. in the catalogue p. 23, listed p. 35; Ithaca, Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, A Private Eye: Dada, Surrealism and More from the Brandt Collection, 2006, illustrated in the catalogue p. 47
Galerie Raf Van Severen
Rik Wouters (Mechelen 1882-1916 Amsterdam) Portrait of Rik Wouters, Chemise Blanche, 1912 Oil on canvas mounted on panel 51.5 x 61.5 cm Annotated at the back: Nr 99 Portrait de Rik Wouters par lui même toile collée sur panneau; Mme V: Rik Wouters; Portret van Rik Dhr Mevr. De Carnière Provenance: previous collection of Nel Wouters; Leten collection, Ghent; private collection, Brussels Literature: Roger Avermaete, Rik Wouters, Editions Arcade, Brussels, 1965 The subject of the self-portrait is a recurring theme throughout Rik Wouters’ artistic career. Throughout his life, he produced numerous paintings and sculptures depicting himself, offering insight into the evolution of his artistic style as well as changes in his physical appearance. These works range from one of his earliest self-portraits, characterised by its darker palette, to a painting from the final years of his life, when he had lost an eye as a result of his deteriorating health. The painting 'Portrait of Rik Wouters, Chemise Blanche' was created in 1912, the year of his artistic breakthrough, when he became the first Belgian painter to sign an exclusive contract with the renowned Galerie Georges Giroux. The painting depicts Wouters in a particularly serene setting, with little to no discernible emotion on his face. This sense of restraint is further emphasised by the Fauvist technique, which favours broad areas of colour over intricate details. Following Wouters’ death, the painting remained in Nel’s possession, reflecting the particular personal significance she attached to the work.
Pelgrims de Bigard
Anthonie Verstraelen (Gorinchem 1594-1641 Amsterdam) Winter landcape with ice skaters by the city edge Oil on panel 43 x 71 cm Provenance: with kunsthandel P. de Boer, Amsterdam, 1937-1938; collection Ir. J. Th. Berkemeijer, Rotterdam, 1938; collection F.N. Meuter, 1972 (according to the label of P. de Boer attached to the reverse); with kunsthandel Waterman, Amsterdam, by 1982; with Palm Court Galleries, Baarn, 1999; private collection, the Netherlands Literature: Rotterdam, Museum Boymans van Beuningen, ‘Meesterwerken uit vier eeuwen 1400-1800, tentoonstelling van schilderijen en teekeningen uit particuliere verzamelingen in Nederland bijeengebracht gedurende de veertigjarige regeering van H.M. Koningin Wilhelmina’, 25 June-15 October 1938, cat. n° 160, ill. 57; Amsterdam, Kunsthandel Waterman, ‘Hendrick Avercamp 1585-1634, Barent Avercamp 1612-1679, Frozen silence, paintings from museums and private collections’, 1982, n° 32, ill. p. 149; and ill. in Tableau, 15 February 1982 Exhibitions: Rotterdam, Museum Boymans van Beuningen, ‘Meesterwerken uit vier eeuwen 1400-1800, tentoonstelling van schilderijen en teekeningen uit particuliere verzamelingen in Nederland bijeengebracht gedurende de veertigjarige regeering van H.M. Koningin Wilhelmina’, 25 June-15 October 1938; Amsterdam, Kunsthandel P. de Boer, ‘Nederland water/land, de relatie tussen land en water in de Nederlandse schilderkunst van 1500 tot nu’, 13 January-19 February 1972, n° 38 (label attached to the reverse); Amsterdam, Kunsthandel Waterman, ‘Hendrick Avercamp 1585-1634, Barent Avercamp 1612-1679, Frozen silence, paintings from museums and private collections’, 1982, n° 32
Vagabond Antiques
After the antique, Chiurazzi Foundry (Attributed to) Naples, second half of the 19th century Bronze head of a man (possibly Dionysus) Bronze on original Rosso Antico marble socle H 70 cm Provenance: private collection at Château De Pesselières, France Literature: Fonderia Chiurazzi, Napoli, catalogue n° 1 'Dionisio o Platone-Bronzo da Ercolano 1741' A finely cast bronze by the Chiurazzi Foundry, Naples, after the celebrated antique excavated at Herculaneum in 1741 and now preserved in the Museo Nazionale di Napoli (inv. 5618). The model is recorded in the Chiurazzi Foundry catalogue as 'n° 1 - Dionisio o Platone - Bronzo da Ercolano 1741', indicating both the foundry’s internal model number and the Naples museum inventory of the original. The figure’s soft modelling, elaborate curls and bound taenia are characteristic of Hellenistic representations of Dionysus, though early scholars, struck by the introspective expression, also proposed identifications with Plato or other philosophers. Modern scholarship accepts the Dionysian attribution. Chiurazzi held exclusive rights to reproduce works from the Naples collections, issuing casts directly from museum models for export to collectors and institutions across Europe and America. This example, with its even dark patination and original Rosso Antico marble socle, reflects the exceptional quality for which the foundry became renowned.
Brun Fine Art
James Cox (London 1723-1800 Watford) and Charles Magniac (Bedford 1786-1824 Paris) Coffer, circa 1760 Gilt bronze and glass painted in imitation of agate, pearls and precious stones 15.8 x 24.5 x 19 cm Engraved 'C3' on the inside front edge Expertise by Enrico Colle Literature: E. Colle, Enrico Colle, Brueghel: the Spirit of Collecting. Paintings. Sculptures. Wonders., Milan, 2026, pp. 294-299 Exhibitions: Brun Fine Art and De Jonckheere, Brueghel: the Spirit of Collecting. Paintings. Sculptures. Wonders., Milan, 2026
MassModernDesign
Jorge Zalszupin (Warschau 1922-2020 São Paulo) L'Atelier, Brazil 1959 Bergere chair Hardwood, fabric H 92 x W 83 x D 93 cm This exceptional Bergère armchair perfectly embodies the essence of Jorge Zalszupin’s design philosophy. A masterful interplay of organic forms, contrasting materials and outstanding craftsmanship, the chair combines beautifully sculpted wooden armrests with refined upholstery and luxurious textures in a remarkably harmonious composition. The contrast between the warm brown suede, textured ivory fabric and richly grained wood highlights Zalszupin’s sophisticated approach to materials and his great attention to detail. Every curve, joint and transition has been carefully considered, reflecting the fine woodworking skills and uncompromising standards of quality that defined his workshop, L’Atelier. More than simply a comfortable armchair, this rare 1959 design is a sculptural expression of Brazilian modernism, bringing together elegance, innovation and traditional craftsmanship in a single, harmonious creation. It remains in excellent condition, a rare occurrence for a piece of this age.
