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Robert Detheux - Large surrealist portrait on canvas - 80x70cm
€490Bid from €380
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Private sellerBatalha, PortugalOn Whoppah since July 2024 • 62 sales
Product description
Robert Detheux (Brussels, 1932–2010)
Large Surrealist Portrait
Circa 2005
Technique: Work on paper mounted on canvas
Dimensions: 80 × 70 cm
Signature: Artist's studio stamp on the reverse ("ROBERT DETHEUX Atelier de l’Artiste")
Condition: Good overall condition. Minor wear to the edges of the stretcher, without affecting the artwork itself.
Provenance: Artist's studio (studio stamp on the reverse)
Description: A powerful surrealist portrait with dreamlike and introspective overtones, characteristic of Robert Detheux's later period. The hybrid, almost double or spectral face emerges from a textured background in warm tones of terracotta, ochre, and blood pink. The large, expressive eyes, the delicate modeling of the features, and the highlights of white and gray lend the composition a presence that is both intimate and unsettling. The work perfectly illustrates the artist's maturity in the 2000s: a universe where the body and face become territories of dreams, memory, and pure emotion.
This large-format piece (80 x 70 cm) is rare on the market and particularly representative of his "Surrealist Portraits" and "Double Presence" series from this period.
Artist Biography
Robert Detheux (1932–2010) was a singular and demanding figure in postwar Belgian art. Born in Brussels, he graduated from the Saint-Luc Institute of Fine Arts. He simultaneously pursued a career as a painter and taught graphic design at the Tournai Academy of Fine Arts (advertising department) until 1996.
From the 1950s onward, he established himself on the Belgian art scene through his involvement in Surrealist and Dadaist movements, while developing a deeply personal style. His work, which blends poetry, subversion, and innovative forms of expression, evolved toward a lyrical abstraction while maintaining a strong presence of the human figure. He was awarded the Prix de la Jeune Peinture Belge (Young Belgian Painters Prize) several times (1953, 1954, and 1971).
In the 1970s, he garnered attention with a series of sensual paintings focused on the belly and navel. The 1980s saw the emergence of large, dark compositions enriched with light calligraphic elements. From the 2000s onward, Detheux devoted himself to spectral, hybrid, and poetic portraits and figures, executed with great mastery of drawing and materials (pastel, chalk, and highlights on mounted paper). His work is included in the collections of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium and in numerous international private collections.
This work, created directly from his studio, testifies to the evocative power and technical subtlety that characterize his latest creations.
Specifications
ConditionVery goodColorsWhite, Brown, RedMaterialWood, TextileNumber of items1OrientationPortraitArt sizeMediumHeight80 cmWidth70 cmDepth1 cmSigns of usageStains, Scratches, Wrinkles
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Seller information
About this seller
Private sellerBatalha, PortugalOn Whoppah since July 2024 • 62 sales