Lot n° 70
Estimation :
100 - 200
EUR
Léon Herlant (1873-1968) - 1 autochrome on Lumière plate, 12 - Lot 70
Léon Herlant (1873-1968) - 1 autochrome on Lumière plate, 12 x 9 cm. This autochrome, taken around 1910, delicately captures a scene of peaceful rural life in the Watermael-Boitsfort district, which was still largely rural at the time. Next to a brightly-lit fruit tree, a modest white house with a red roof stands out clearly. This type of dwelling, typical of the 19th century, has now disappeared, swept away by the urban transformations of the 20th century.
A well-trimmed hedge clearly demarcates the dirt road bordering the property, reinforcing the simple, orderly atmosphere of this once-familiar place. In the shade of the tree, the presence of two young boys wearing caps, in a natural, unposed posture, lends the image a touching human dimension. Their attire, typical of the 1900s, bears witness to the daily lives of the neighborhood's modest families.
Thanks to the autochrome technique, this ordinary scene becomes a rare testimony, at the crossroads of historical document, ethnographic insight and visual emotion. The golden light, slightly faded colors and balanced composition between nature and architecture make this an image charged with memory, where time seems suspended.
Léon Herlant (1873-1968) 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.
Weight: 0 g
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