Madame Constantin Meunier

Van Rysselberghe employs a combination of smooth modeling for the figure and a looser, impasto‑rich handling of paint in the surrounding area. Thick, textured brushstrokes accentuate the woman's face and dress, while the background is rendered in softer, blurred tones of brown and green, creating a subtle contrast that isolates the subject.

Since its creation in the early 1890s, the portrait has remained in Belgium, eventually entering the holdings of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp. The museum acquired the piece as part of its effort to represent the work of Belgian artists active in the late‑19th century.

The painting belongs to the period when van Rysselberghe was exploring pointillist and neo‑impressionist techniques, yet here he adopts a more subdued, tonal approach. The work reflects the broader shift among Belgian painters toward intimate portraiture that balances modern brushwork with traditional compositional clarity.