Female Nude (ca 1894)

Henri Evenepoel painted this work around 1894, shortly after moving from Brussels to Paris. Although he previously painted a few -other academic- nudes, with this painting he takes more distance from his former Brussels period and what we see is that he gradually arrives at a different -between Fauvist and Impressionist- style that is so typical for the master. This is more than an usual academic study (after life); against a fairly monochrome but nicely balanced background the painter places a woman in an attitude of movement and sensuality. Evenepoel was working in the studio of Gustave Moreau during this period, who brought him into contact with Henri Matisse and Georges Rouault.

Authentification stamps on the back: he oeuvre authentique de Henri Evenepoel 1872-1899, Exhibition label Galerie Georges Giroux, Brussels/ Photograph in Evenepoel Archive AACB 76613/406,
Published: Danielle Derrey-Capon, Henri Evenepoel, Snoeck-Ducaju, p. 236, Cat. Nr. 80, Reproduced.
Exposition: Cercle Artistique et Literaire XXII Salon, Salle de la Bourse, Charleroi, 1948.
Provenance: Leo Dohmen, Antwerp/ Private collection Brussels/ Sotheby's, Mak van Waay Amsterdam 11.05.1982 lot nr 342/ De Vuyst Lokeren 26.02.1983 nr 146/ Christie's London 20.10.88 nr 26.
Oil on Canvas, 81 x 65 cm (31 ⁷/₈ x 25 ⁵/₈ inches)
ca 1894