Robert Detheux (1932-2010) - Le Chat silencieux - 2008
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Description from the seller
Artist: Robert Detheux (1932-2010)
Silent Cat
Date: 2009
Dimensions: 43 cm × 34 cm
Condition: Good
Signature and date: Signed and dated 2009
Framing: Sold unframed
Shipment: Will be sent flat, carefully protected.
Robert Detheux – Series of Cats (2009)
Created in 2009, Silent Cat fits into the continuity of the Cats series, which Robert Detheux developed over several years. During this later period, the artist favors a more inward approach, reducing the figure to a few essential traits to enhance its poetic impact.
Description of the work
The drawing features a frontal cat face, partially emerging from a deep gray background. The work with pencil, punctuated by light highlights, focuses mainly on the eyes, which immediately capture attention. Slightly asymmetrical, these eyes create a subtle tension, giving the cat a presence that is both fragile and insistent.
The lines remain open and incomplete. Some extend further, while others fade into the background material, suggesting more the figure than describing it. The cat thus seems to float in a silent space, as if absorbed by an inner thought.
Matter and atmosphere
The gray background, worked through superpositions, rubbing, and light scratches, plays a crucial role in the composition. It envelops the figure and fully participates in its emergence. This dense and vibrant material enhances the impression of silence and withdrawal, giving the entire piece a meditative and timeless atmosphere.
Artistic context
In his works from the late 2000s, Robert Detheux explores the figure of the cat as a symbol of vigilance and introspection. The feline becomes a form of silent presence, opposed to the noise and agitation of the outside world. Silent Cat illustrates this approach with great economy of means, where each stroke contributes to the balance between appearance and disappearance.
Comparison and influences
The sobriety of the drawing and the emphasis placed on the gaze evoke certain post-surrealist practices, where the image acts as a mental trace rather than a descriptive representation. The restrained expressiveness and the slow gaze recall the rigor of Balthus, while the symbolic and almost spectral dimension of the cat finds an echo in Leonor Fini's universe.
Provenance
The artist's family collection
Artist: Robert Detheux (1932-2010)
Silent Cat
Date: 2009
Dimensions: 43 cm × 34 cm
Condition: Good
Signature and date: Signed and dated 2009
Framing: Sold unframed
Shipment: Will be sent flat, carefully protected.
Robert Detheux – Series of Cats (2009)
Created in 2009, Silent Cat fits into the continuity of the Cats series, which Robert Detheux developed over several years. During this later period, the artist favors a more inward approach, reducing the figure to a few essential traits to enhance its poetic impact.
Description of the work
The drawing features a frontal cat face, partially emerging from a deep gray background. The work with pencil, punctuated by light highlights, focuses mainly on the eyes, which immediately capture attention. Slightly asymmetrical, these eyes create a subtle tension, giving the cat a presence that is both fragile and insistent.
The lines remain open and incomplete. Some extend further, while others fade into the background material, suggesting more the figure than describing it. The cat thus seems to float in a silent space, as if absorbed by an inner thought.
Matter and atmosphere
The gray background, worked through superpositions, rubbing, and light scratches, plays a crucial role in the composition. It envelops the figure and fully participates in its emergence. This dense and vibrant material enhances the impression of silence and withdrawal, giving the entire piece a meditative and timeless atmosphere.
Artistic context
In his works from the late 2000s, Robert Detheux explores the figure of the cat as a symbol of vigilance and introspection. The feline becomes a form of silent presence, opposed to the noise and agitation of the outside world. Silent Cat illustrates this approach with great economy of means, where each stroke contributes to the balance between appearance and disappearance.
Comparison and influences
The sobriety of the drawing and the emphasis placed on the gaze evoke certain post-surrealist practices, where the image acts as a mental trace rather than a descriptive representation. The restrained expressiveness and the slow gaze recall the rigor of Balthus, while the symbolic and almost spectral dimension of the cat finds an echo in Leonor Fini's universe.
Provenance
The artist's family collection
Details
Artist
Robert Detheux (1932-2010)
Sold with frame
No
Sold by
Owner or reseller
Edition
Original
Title of artwork
Le Chat silencieux - 2008
Technique
Mixed media
Signature
Hand signed
Country of Origin
Belgium
Year
2009
Condition
Good condition
Height
43 cm
Width
34 cm
Style
Surrealism
Period
2000-2010
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