Lot n° 2
Estimation :
100 - 200
EUR
Léon Herlant (1873-1968) - Portraits of the Photographer and - Lot 2
Léon Herlant (1873-1968) - Portraits of the Photographer and his Brother Achille Herlant - circa 1910 (2 positive glass plates, 8.5 x 10 cm). This series of two glass plate positives, produced around 1900, reveals a scene full of life and contrast. Captured in particularly high-contrast black-and-white light, Léon Herlant and his brother Achille Herlant indulge in joyful, spontaneous antics, far removed from traditional images of rigid scientists. The play of light accentuates deep shadows and bright whites, creating a visual atmosphere marked by striking contrast.
The expressions of the two brothers strike a perfect balance between seriousness and lightness. Léon, in the foreground, seems caught up in exaggerated movement, capturing a moment when he lets himself go in joy, while Achille, at his side, shares this spontaneity with an amused expression. Their brotherly complicity can be seen in the dynamism of their postures, a striking contrast to the austere scientific world in which they usually evolved.
The high-contrast light projected onto their faces brings out every detail of their expressions. The deep shadows on their features are contrasted by the bright whiteness of their shirts, highlighting the energy emanating from this moment. The technical aspect of the photograph, thanks to the use of glass plates and meticulous work on exposure, creates a dramatic effect that underlines the intensity of the scene, while retaining a certain softness in the nuances of the faces.
Léon Herlant (1873-1968), a man who was both a scientist and an artist. A doctor of medicine and pharmacology, professor and chairman of the Faculty of Medicine at the Université Libre de Bruxelles from 1930 onwards, Herlant was the perfect example of the spirit of his time: curious, methodical and sensitive to the beauty of the world.
In addition to his scientific work - including a book co-written with G. Billen in 1896, Micrographie des poudres officinales - Léon Herlant was a passionate Autochrome photographer. His photographs reveal an intimate view of nature and everyday objects.
His works include superb snow-covered landscapes, tormented studies of trees, and still lifes of great finesse, where colors burst forth in delicate light.
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