Madame Von Bodenhausen with her daughter Luli - Théo van Rysselberghe

A Neo-Impressionist portrait by Théo van Rysselberghe, featuring Madame Von Bodenhausen and her daughter in a luminous, divisionist style.

This portrait by Théo van Rysselberghe captures Madame Von Bodenhausen alongside her daughter, Luli, in a domestic setting. The composition utilises the divisionist technique, a hallmark of the artist's later period, where small, distinct dots of colour are applied to the canvas to create a luminous effect when viewed from a distance. The artist, a central figure in the Belgian Neo-Impressionist movement, moved away from the rigid scientific application of colour seen in his earlier works, opting for a more fluid and painterly approach that allowed for greater expression in his portraiture.

The figures are positioned before a mirror, which adds a layer of depth to the composition and allows for a subtle reflection of the subjects. The mother wears a flowing blue gown, while the young girl is dressed in lighter, neutral tones. A vase of roses sits on the table, providing a soft contrast to the structured lines of the interior. Van Rysselberghe manages to balance the decorative quality of the background with the psychological presence of the sitters. The light appears to shimmer across the surface of the canvas, a direct result of the artist's careful selection of complementary hues. This work demonstrates his ability to integrate the rigour of pointillism with the requirements of formal portraiture, resulting in a scene that feels both composed and immediate. The attention to the texture of the fabric and the soft features of the faces shows his technical proficiency during this period of his career.