Lot n° 72
Estimation :
100 - 200
EUR
Léon Herlant (1873-1968) - 1 autochrome on Lumière plate, 12 - Lot 72
Léon Herlant (1873-1968) - 1 autochrome on Lumière plate, 12 x 9 cm. A rare testimony to an intellectual bourgeois interior of the early 20th century, this unique autochrome plunges us into an eclectic, refined room, where objects from the Orient and European furniture of historicist inspiration rub shoulders. The composition, conceived with great attention to detail, reflects the erudite tastes of its owner, probably Léon Herlant himself.
The space is punctuated by rich, symbolic decorative elements: on the left, a sumptuous Chinese dignitary's robe in red silk, of remarkable brilliance, catches the eye with its refinement and the quality of its embroidery. Measurably arranged, Chinese porcelain from the green family and several plates hung on the wall testify to a passion for Asian arts, typical of the Japanese and Orientalist fashions in vogue at the time.
To the right, an imposing ivory-inlaid black bargueño, a prestigious piece of furniture with multiple drawers inspired by the Spanish High Period, introduces another temporality, that of the historicist revival, underlining the hybridity of cultivated taste of the period.
The play of chiaroscuro, beautifully rendered in autochrome, adds depth to the scene. An antique mirror above the fireplace, placed in the center of the image, subtly extends the space and accentuates the theatrical dimension of the whole.
With its balance of light, objects and textures, this photograph goes beyond mere documentary recording: it becomes the silent portrait of a soul's interior, a mental space where science, aesthetics and spirituality meet.
Léon Herlant (1873-1968), a man who was both scientist and 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 a 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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