Artwork
Woman with Peacocks
Woman with Peacocks is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Constant Montald. It dates from 1909 and is held in the collection of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium.
About this work
Overview
Constant Montald’s 1909 tempera work, Woman with Peacocks, is part of the collection of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium. The composition presents a nude female figure turned away from the viewer, set within a richly vegetated woodland. Peacocks are interspersed among the foliage, their plumage adding colour and dynamism to the scene.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure, rendered with her back to the audience, appears introspective, her gaze directed downward. The surrounding peacocks, symbols of beauty and renewal, contrast with the solitary human presence, suggesting a dialogue between nature’s vitality and human contemplation within an idyllic forest setting.
Technique & Style
Executed in tempera, the painting achieves a luminous surface and fine detailing. Montald employs layered pigments to build depth, allowing the foliage and bird feathers to convey texture and movement. The cool palette and delicate brushwork reflect the artist’s affinity for decorative symbolism and a decorative, almost lyrical, treatment of the natural world.
History & Provenance
Created in 1909, the work entered the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium’s holdings, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s early‑20th‑century focus on Belgian Symbolist painters, positioning Montald among contemporaries who explored mythic and allegorical themes through refined technique.
Artist & collection
Museum
Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
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