Pastel Signed By Hélène De Reuse (1892-1979) – Belgian Artist

Original pastel signed by Hélène De Reuse, a renowned 20th-century Belgian artist trained at the Academy of Fine Arts in Ghent and represented in several museum collections. This work depicts an intimate interior scene, featuring a child seated at a table. The free and synthetic technique, combined with a subtle palette of ochres, pinks, and whites, lends the composition an atmosphere that is both modern and delicate. The brushwork is spontaneous and sensitive, revealing the artist's mastery of pastel and her affinity for muted moods. The work is signed in the lower right corner, protected under glass, and presented in an antique giltwood frame, perfectly suited to the period. Dimensions • Framed: 40 × 34 cm • Image size: 19 × 17 cm Technique: Pastel on paper Signature: Signed H. De Reuse Condition: Very good overall condition Period: First half of the 20th century Hélène De Reuse Hélène De Reuse (1892–1979) was a Belgian painter and draughtswoman active in the 20th century. Born in Wachtebeke, she participated in the artistic life of Ghent and Belgium, notably through her portraits and figure studies held at the Museum of Fine Arts in Ghent. Her work is rooted in the tradition of modernist Flemish painting. Training and Career De Reuse worked primarily in East Flanders, in Saint-Amandsberg, near Ghent. Her presence is documented in Belgian exhibition records from the early 20th century, where she presented three works at the Brussels Triennial Salon in 1914. Although her career is not well documented, it falls within the context of the Belgian female artists who emerged before the First World War. Work and Style: De Reuse's known pieces include portraits and studies of women, often executed in oil or charcoal. Works such as Seated Woman (page from a sketchbook) and Portrait of Ms. O. De Reuse demonstrate a figurative sensibility and a subtle treatment of light. Her work evokes the Flemish Realist school while incorporating an intimate touch characteristic of the transitional period towards modernity. Conservation and Recognition: Hélène De Reuse's works are now part of the collections of the Museum voor Schone Kunsten Gent (Museum of Fine Arts Ghent), within the Flemish Art Collection. Although it has received little media attention, it represents the contribution of many Belgian artists from the first half of the 20th century to portrait and genre painting.