Emile Verhaeren Writing 1915

Theo van Rysselberghe captured Émile Verhaeren in oil on canvas, showing him in the act of writing. The marks are immediate, a mosaic of short strokes in a high-key palette. You can tell that he’s not trying to conceal the process; he’s embracing it. Look closely at the bookshelf behind Verhaeren. It’s a flurry of greens and blues, not quite representational but full of energy. The paint is applied thickly, you can almost feel the texture of the bristles. The artist’s hand is so present here. There’s a real sense of immediacy, like he’s trying to capture a fleeting moment. It's the gesture towards something concrete. This way of building up the image through small strokes reminds me of Signac, another artist who was fascinated by light and color. But Rysselberghe brings his own sensibility, capturing not just a likeness, but the very essence of Verhaeren's creative spirit. It's a painting that invites contemplation, leaving space for our own interpretations.