Artwork
Figuur van een Laatste Avondmaal
Figuur van een Laatste Avondmaal is an unspecified painting by Gustave Van de Woestijne. It dates from 1926 and is held in the collection of the Groeningemuseum.
About this work
Overview
Gustave Van de Woestijne, a Belgian painter linked to the First Latem Group, completed *Figuur van een Laatste Avondmaal* in 1926. The canvas presents a solitary, introspective figure set against a muted brown backdrop and is part of the Groeningemuseum’s permanent collection.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a woman with dark hair drawn back, her gaze turned slightly left, conveying a quiet, contemplative mood. A partially visible second face at the left edge introduces an element of ambiguity, suggesting an unseen presence or inner dialogue within the scene.
Technique & Style
Van de Woestijne employs subtle shading and textured brushwork to model the facial features, creating depth and a tactile surface. The restrained palette of browns and muted tones reinforces the work’s somber atmosphere, while the layered handling of paint draws attention to the nuanced expression of the central figure.
History & Provenance
Since its creation, the painting has remained in Belgium, entering the collection of the Groeningemuseum in Ghent. Van de Woestijne, who died in 1947 and was interred at Campo Santo cemetery, left a modest body of religious genre works that continue to be exhibited in regional institutions.
Artist & collection
Artist
Gustave Van de Woestijne (Dutch: ; 2 August 1881 – 21 April 1947) was a Belgian expressionist painter.
