A quaint and blocky street scene by Belgian painter, Jules Van de Leene (1887-1962). It reminds us a little of Paul Cézanne (1839-1906) and clearly the artist was an admirer.

Van de Leene studied at the Académies des Beaux-Arts of Ixelles and Brussels at such an exciting time. New ideas were emerging and a freedom to express was becoming commonplace. The post-impressionists, such as Cézanne and Paul Gauguin (1848-1903) had left an indelible mark, which encouraged others to explore new techniques and approaches.

In this study, Van de Leene has used a low-key palette to capture this stony grey cobbled street. The buildings seem to lurch into the scene and our lowdown viewpoint gives them an extra gravitas.

Works by Jules Van de Leene are held in several prestigious collections including at museums in Bruges, Brussels and Kortrijk.

The painting is housed within what appears to be its original frame.

Medium: Oil on board
Overall size: 11” x 15½” / 28cm x 39cm
Year of creation: c. 1915
Provenance: Belgium
Condition: Generally good. Could be cleaned to restore its vibrancy. Frame with some wear.
Artist’s auction highlight: £3,724 achieved for ‘Femme Assise’ in 2018.