Oosterse priester voor een stoep 1889

"Oosterse priester voor een stoep" is an etching by Belgian artist Charles Berckmans, created in 1889. The artwork depicts a bearded man in traditional Eastern garb, standing on a cobblestone street. His long robe and turban, coupled with the setting, suggest an Eastern European or Middle Eastern location. This small-scale etching (278 mm x 232 mm) showcases Berckmans' skill in capturing the nuances of light and shadow in a detailed and realistic manner. The composition focuses on the figure, isolated against the backdrop of a building and steps, adding to the sense of solitude and mystique. Berckmans' artistic style, characterized by meticulous detail and sensitive use of light, contributed to the emergence of a new realism in Belgian art during the late 19th century.