Portrait of Andre Gide 1908

Theo van Rysselberghe painted this portrait of Andre Gide, likely in 1908, using oil on canvas. Notice how the composition is dominated by short, directional brushstrokes that create a mosaic-like effect. This technique not only models the form but also animates the surface, giving it a palpable energy. Rysselberghe was deeply influenced by Neo-Impressionism, a style rooted in the scientific study of color and perception. The individual strokes of color – blues, pinks, and greens – blend optically in the viewer's eye, creating a vibrant luminosity. However, here he moves beyond the systematic pointillism of Seurat, embracing a more expressive application of paint. The portrait captures Gide's intellectual intensity. The formal elements, like the dynamic brushwork, destabilize any sense of static representation. Instead, they evoke a sense of the sitter's complex inner life. It is a portrait not just of a person, but of a mind at work.