Edouard Verschaffelt, View Of Bou Saâda, 20th

Orientalist painting depicting three men, two of whom are riding donkeys, in an oasis dotted with palm trees. The inscription on the back of the work tells us that it is a view of Bou Saâda, a town located in northern Algeria. The latter attracted many European travelers and artists from the beginning of French colonization for its gentle way of life and the beauty of its landscapes. The luminous colors, bathed in the Algerian sun, give this work a vibrant and warm atmosphere.

Born in Ghent, Edouard Verschaffelt (1874-1955) was a Belgian painter specializing in genre scenes, portraits, and orientalist landscapes. Trained at the academies of Antwerp and Ghent, he first spent several years in Morocco before moving to Algeria in 1919. There he married a young woman from the Ouled Sidi Brahim tribe and settled with her in Bou Saâda, going to Algiers for his exhibitions and his participation in the Salon of Algerian and Orientalist Artists. This “field” experience allowed him to depict scenes imbued with truth and spontaneity, far from the clichés of a fantasized Orient.

Inscriptions on the back: “Edouard VAN VERSCHAFFELT”, “Gift from Mrs. VERSCHAFFELT/Bou-Saâda-APRIL 1965/To Miss Claude ALAUX”.
Good condition.
20th century.

Dimensions:
Framed: 58 x 52 cm
Viewed: 43 x 38 cm