Autobiographical Questionnaire (Henri Van der Haert) - Henri Van der Haert

A rare 1841 autobiographical questionnaire completed by the Belgian artist Henri Van der Haert for a historical biographical publication.

This document is a completed biographical questionnaire, dated 8 December 1841, submitted by the Belgian painter and engraver Henri Van der Haert. The form was part of a broader effort by the author Johannes Immerzeel to compile a comprehensive record of Dutch and Flemish artists for his publication, De Levens en Werken der Hollandsche en Vlaamsche Kunstschilders, Beeldhouwers, Graveurs en Bouwmeesters.

Van der Haert provides a handwritten account of his professional life, detailing his origins in Leuven, his training, and his career trajectory. He identifies himself as a painter of history and portraits, noting his role as the director of the Academy in Ghent and his work as a professor. The document offers a rare, primary-source glimpse into the administrative and biographical record-keeping of the nineteenth-century art world. It captures the artist's own voice, including his mention of his marriage to Victoire Fremier and his residence in Brussels.

The visual character of the piece is defined by the structured layout of the printed form, contrasted against the fluid, cursive handwriting of the artist. The ink remains clear, documenting the specific details of his life, such as his commissions and his academic appointments. As a historical artefact, it provides context for the life of a figure who occupied a specific position within the Belgian art establishment during the early nineteenth century. This print is suitable for those interested in the history of art documentation, archival materials, and the personal records of historical figures.