Artwork
Portrait of the painter Hippolyte Van Soom
Portrait of the painter Hippolyte Van Soom is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Eugène Siberdt. It dates from 1892 and is held in the collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp.
About this work
The painting features a man with a mustache, wearing a dark jacket over a white shirt and tie.
The painting features a man with a mustache, wearing a dark jacket over a white shirt and tie. He sits in a chair, resting his left arm on the backrest. His right hand holds a painter's palette, and he appears to be in a studio setting.
The artist's signature and the date "1883" are visible on the back of the chair. The overall atmosphere of the painting suggests a quiet, contemplative moment.
This portrait invites further exploration of the artist, Eugène Siberdt.
Overview
Eugène Siberdt created a portrait of his fellow artist Hippolyte Van Soom in 1892, employing oil on canvas. The work presents Van Soom seated in a studio, his left arm resting on the chair’s backrest while his right hand holds a painter’s palette, suggesting a moment of quiet concentration.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter, Hippolyte Van Soom, is shown as a mature man with a moustache, dressed in a dark jacket, white shirt and tie. By placing the palette in his hand, Siberdt emphasizes Van Soom’s identity as a painter, inviting viewers to consider the creative process and the personal connection between the two artists.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil, the portrait reflects Siberdt’s academic training while incorporating elements of late‑19th‑century Impressionism, such as softened edges and a muted palette. The brushwork balances careful modeling of the figure with looser handling of the surrounding studio space, creating a restrained yet atmospheric effect.
History & Provenance
The painting is part of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp’s collection. Siberdt, a Belgian academic and former drawing professor at the Antwerp Academy, signed and dated the work—though the visible date on the chair’s back reads 1883, the consensus places its completion in 1892.
Artist & collection
Artist
Eugène Siberdt, Eugeen Siberdt or Eugène François Joseph Siberdt (Antwerp, 21 April 1851 – Antwerp, 6 January 1931) was a Belgian Academic, late-Romantic painter who created portraits, history paintings, genre scenes and Orientalist…
