The Lecture by Emile Verhaeren 1903

Curator: This is Théo van Rysselberghe’s, “The Lecture by Emile Verhaeren,” completed in 1903. A stunning group portrait done in oil on canvas. Editor: The atmosphere here is intense. There’s a hushed anticipation, everyone’s leaning in. All this punctuated with frantic scribbles on pages and some sort of debate, and they seem so close. It is like getting in the middle of an intriguing conversation Curator: Rysselberghe captures a moment among influential artistic figures in Belgium at the turn of the century. There are men surrounding a table that looks chaotic with books and papers. Verhaeren is at the center with an energetic presentation. The intention here, seems to document the artistic climate of the time, framing Verhaeren, who was an established poet, at its center. Editor: I can definitely feel the energy, even the slight friction. The pointillist technique is interesting, all those tiny dots vibrating together like buzzing minds, that add another level of vibrancy to the intensity of the discussion itself. Look at how the colours, aren't they just wonderful? So bright but in such a subtle way Curator: That's right. The choice to apply the paint in a pointillist manner makes the group, while serious in engagement, alive and relevant. Pointillism, itself, had such a presence during this era; an important shift. How this canvas shows how artists in Belgium embraced and innovated. It challenges the art world but feels historically sound by being a group portrait. A way for it to get its due seriousness while exploring color theory and style. Editor: You can sense the intellectual sparring, the passionate exchange of ideas. Is it possible to imagine all that the future holds while you sit with all your most important allies in a room filled with books and passion? . Curator: In the modern era where digital tools are omnipresent and ideas have different weight. Looking at a captured, analog, and material world is a true look back. What it means to exist now is so wildly different and that to me, is just fascinating to examine.