The burning time 1897

Theo van Rysselberghe painted "The burning time", of unknown date, in oil on canvas. This scene of bathers might initially appear as a timeless idyll, yet it speaks volumes about the cultural anxieties and artistic currents of its time. Painted in Belgium, it reflects the influence of Neo-Impressionism, a style that sought scientific precision in the depiction of light and color, while depicting a mythological scene. The image invokes classical themes and can be placed within a late nineteenth-century context where debates swirled around the role of women and their representation in art. Was this art an attempt to uphold conservative ideals of beauty, or did it offer a subtle challenge to the prevailing social norms? To answer, we might consider the artist's milieu, his relationship to the avant-garde, and the reception of such images in the salons and critical journals of the day. This underscores the vital role of social and institutional history in understanding the power of art.