Otto Willem Albertus Roelofs (1877-1920) - Portrait of Tjieke Bleckmann

This refined portrait of a woman by Otto Willem Albertus Roelofs shows an elegant lady in profile, with a luxuriant updo and a striking white hair ornament. The lady is Tjieke Bleckmann; she was also a painter and married Albert in 1900. The artist masterfully evokes a special atmosphere of intimacy and refinement with a loose, flowing brushstroke and subtle color nuances. The soft face, downcast gaze, and delicate earring contrast with the dark, expressive coiffure. Warm brown and beige tones are harmoniously combined with cool gray-blue accents in the clothing. The transparent layers of paint and sketchy finish give the portrait a spontaneous, almost dreamy feel. The work breathes the elegance of the Belle Époque and reflects the attention to female beauty, fashion, and character that was so characteristic of portrait art around 1900. About the artist Otto Willem Albertus Roelofs (1877–1920) Otto Willem Albertus Roelofs, better known as Albert Roelofs, was a Dutch painter, watercolourist, draughtsman, and graphic artist. He was born on 5 September 1877 in Schaerbeek near Brussels, the son of the famous landscape painter Willem Roelofs (1822–1897). After his first painting lessons from his father, he studied at the Royal Academy of Visual Arts in The Hague and continued his training in Brussels and Paris. Although he initially painted mainly still lifes, he developed into a particularly gifted portrait and figure painter, with a preference for elegant female figures and intimate domestic scenes. His wife Tjieke Bleckmann was one of his most important models and remained a constant source of inspiration. His impressionistically tinged painting style is characterized by refined color use, a loose brushstroke, and a remarkable sensitivity to light and atmosphere. Roelofs enjoyed considerable fame during his lifetime and even gave painting lessons to Queen Wilhelmina and Princess Juliana. He died on 31 December 1920 in The Hague, at only 43 years of age. Technique: Watercolor. Dimensions: 32 × 26 cm (work) and 61 × 60 cm (including frame).

Estimate:£1,166.9

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