Fernand Gaudfroy (1885-1964) Portrait d'Un Soldat En Hiver, 1919, Oil On Canvas, Signed

Fernand Gaudfroy (1885-1964)
Portrait of a soldier in winter, 1919
signed and dated lower left
Oil on canvas
55 x 45 cm
In a period frame, several imperfections on the frame molding that are not visible from the front; see detailed photos
75 x 66 cm

With this portrait of a soldier, Fernand Gaudfroy has created a particularly poignant and arresting work. This ordinary soldier, portrayed from the front in the great classical tradition, captivates us with his gaze; the snowy landscape is clearly not there by chance, but symbolizes all the suffering endured by the soldiers of the First World War. It's more than just a portrait, and the power that emanates from this work is precisely that. The date is of course significant: in 1919, although the fighting had ended, the soldiers were about to be demobilized. This war must have been a lasting trauma for the population, and the artist has clearly sought to bear witness to this. He does so with great skill; the choice of color harmony also contributes to the beauty of the work.
Although he is known for his genre scenes, Fernand Gaudfroy was renowned in his day for his talent as a portraitist. It is interesting, for example, to compare our portrait with the artist's self-portrait in the Musée de Tournai.

Fernand Gaudfroy was born in Tournai on April 22, 1885 and died on December 31, 1964. A painter and portraitist, he was one of the founding members of the Compagnie du Cabaret wallon tournaisien. He took part in various art exhibitions, including the Salonnets de Printemps organized by the Cercle artistique de Tournai. In 1922, he presented portraits of Degreppe and Henry Chantry. Fernand Gaudfroy's sources of inspiration were varied: nudes, floral compositions, landscapes and Tournai neighborhoods. He also enjoyed depicting traditional trades: "The Tinsmith", "Brass Cleaning"...
Fernand Gaudfroy trained successively at the Tournai and Brussels academies. He exhibited regularly at the Cercle artistique de Tournai. He was commissioned to paint official portraits. For the most part, he was able to escape conventional coldness and bring out the subject's intimate psychology beneath the colorful finery.