Robert Detheux (1932-2010) - Maternité surréaliste - 2008
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Description from the seller
Robert Detheux (1932-2010) – Surrealist Maternity – 2008
Artist: Robert Detheux (Brussels, 1932-2010)
Title of the work: Surrealist Maternity
(series “The Woman Who Listens”)
Date: 2008
Technique: Mixed media on paper (charcoal, pencil and white highlights). Textured brown paper, rich in body.
Dimensions: 36 × 50 cm
Condition: Good overall condition. Small tear located on the right side, in the border (no impact on the composition). The material effects, rubbing and paper irregularities are intentional by the artist. No other visible defects.
Sold unframed.
Signature: Signed and dated “Detheux 2008” at the bottom left. Series title inscribed at the bottom right.
Provenance:
Artist’s studio collection (acquired directly).
Description:
Beautiful and rare Surrealist Maternity from 2008, belonging to the series “The Woman Who Listens.” A nude woman of generous curves sits in a large, armrested chair with voluted arms.
The face, slightly lifted, bears an absent, inward gaze, as if suspended in listening.
At her feet stand two small nude figures, almost childlike or spectral, which reinforce the intimate and slightly unsettling character of the scene. The white highlights sculpt the woman’s body and the volumes of the little beings with a soft, fleshy light.
The work blends sensuality, maternity and dreamlike atmosphere, in a language typical of Detheux’s late period. The chair, almost organic, seems to envelop the figures.
A strong and representative piece, where the artist explores the theme of listening, silence and inner presence.
Artist’s Biography
Born in Brussels in 1932 and passed away in 2010, Robert Detheux is a singular, demanding and deeply engaging figure in Belgian art of the 20th century. A graduate of the Saint-Luc Institute in Fine Arts in Brussels, he taught graphic expression at the Academy of Tournai until 1996, while developing a coherent and strikingly free body of work.
His artistic journey unfolds in several major periods:
• In the 1950s-1960s, he established a powerful surrealist and expressionist language, marked by intense portraits and dreamlike compositions.
• In the 1970s, he explored with sensuality and obsession the theme of the female body and face, developing hybrid figures and highly elaborate textures.
• The 1980s-1990s saw the flowering of a more hybrid and grotesque universe, mixing erotism, black humor and poetry.
• Finally, the 2000-2010 period, particularly sought after today, represents total maturity: spectral portraits, apparitions and hybrid figures executed with exceptional mastery, as evidenced by this Surrealist Maternity of 2008.
Little shown in life, Robert Detheux created, with freedom, an intimate, subversive and poetic universe that belongs only to him.
Rediscovered in recent years thanks to the unveiling of his important studio archive (nearly 1,500 works on paper), his oeuvre today enjoys growing and legitimate enthusiasm among discerning collectors in Belgium, Spain and Europe.
A master of drawing, Detheux leaves behind an authentic, vibrant and timeless body of work that continues to surprise and captivate with its evocative power, profound humanity and modernity. Collecting Detheux means entering a unique dreamlike world, populated by hybrid figures and waking dreams.
Seller's Story
About SR Fine Art
With nearly 28 years of experience in the art market, I am passionate about rediscovering artists’ studios and bringing their works to a wide audience on Catawiki.
I specialize in Belgian and European modern and contemporary art. My flagship collection is the studio archive of Robert Detheux (nearly 1,500 works on paper). I also offer surrealist drawings, beautiful abstract paintings from the 1950s, magnificent nude photographs by Michel Pinel, contemporary paintings, Cobra compositions, and works by Marcus de Vestele, Gundi Falk, René Mels, Eugène Eechaut and many others.
From intimate drawings to large formats, there is something for every taste and every budget. The vast majority of my auctions start at 1 € with no reserve price, giving everyone the chance to acquire unique pieces.
Every shipment is prepared with the utmost care using professional museum-quality packaging to ensure perfect condition upon arrival.
Join my growing community of satisfied clients and follow my new auctions to discover rare works from these exceptional studios.
Thank you for your trust and happy bidding!
SR Fine Art
Translated by Google TranslateRobert Detheux (1932-2010) – Surrealist Maternity – 2008
Artist: Robert Detheux (Brussels, 1932-2010)
Title of the work: Surrealist Maternity
(series “The Woman Who Listens”)
Date: 2008
Technique: Mixed media on paper (charcoal, pencil and white highlights). Textured brown paper, rich in body.
Dimensions: 36 × 50 cm
Condition: Good overall condition. Small tear located on the right side, in the border (no impact on the composition). The material effects, rubbing and paper irregularities are intentional by the artist. No other visible defects.
Sold unframed.
Signature: Signed and dated “Detheux 2008” at the bottom left. Series title inscribed at the bottom right.
Provenance:
Artist’s studio collection (acquired directly).
Description:
Beautiful and rare Surrealist Maternity from 2008, belonging to the series “The Woman Who Listens.” A nude woman of generous curves sits in a large, armrested chair with voluted arms.
The face, slightly lifted, bears an absent, inward gaze, as if suspended in listening.
At her feet stand two small nude figures, almost childlike or spectral, which reinforce the intimate and slightly unsettling character of the scene. The white highlights sculpt the woman’s body and the volumes of the little beings with a soft, fleshy light.
The work blends sensuality, maternity and dreamlike atmosphere, in a language typical of Detheux’s late period. The chair, almost organic, seems to envelop the figures.
A strong and representative piece, where the artist explores the theme of listening, silence and inner presence.
Artist’s Biography
Born in Brussels in 1932 and passed away in 2010, Robert Detheux is a singular, demanding and deeply engaging figure in Belgian art of the 20th century. A graduate of the Saint-Luc Institute in Fine Arts in Brussels, he taught graphic expression at the Academy of Tournai until 1996, while developing a coherent and strikingly free body of work.
His artistic journey unfolds in several major periods:
• In the 1950s-1960s, he established a powerful surrealist and expressionist language, marked by intense portraits and dreamlike compositions.
• In the 1970s, he explored with sensuality and obsession the theme of the female body and face, developing hybrid figures and highly elaborate textures.
• The 1980s-1990s saw the flowering of a more hybrid and grotesque universe, mixing erotism, black humor and poetry.
• Finally, the 2000-2010 period, particularly sought after today, represents total maturity: spectral portraits, apparitions and hybrid figures executed with exceptional mastery, as evidenced by this Surrealist Maternity of 2008.
Little shown in life, Robert Detheux created, with freedom, an intimate, subversive and poetic universe that belongs only to him.
Rediscovered in recent years thanks to the unveiling of his important studio archive (nearly 1,500 works on paper), his oeuvre today enjoys growing and legitimate enthusiasm among discerning collectors in Belgium, Spain and Europe.
A master of drawing, Detheux leaves behind an authentic, vibrant and timeless body of work that continues to surprise and captivate with its evocative power, profound humanity and modernity. Collecting Detheux means entering a unique dreamlike world, populated by hybrid figures and waking dreams.
Seller's Story
About SR Fine Art
With nearly 28 years of experience in the art market, I am passionate about rediscovering artists’ studios and bringing their works to a wide audience on Catawiki.
I specialize in Belgian and European modern and contemporary art. My flagship collection is the studio archive of Robert Detheux (nearly 1,500 works on paper). I also offer surrealist drawings, beautiful abstract paintings from the 1950s, magnificent nude photographs by Michel Pinel, contemporary paintings, Cobra compositions, and works by Marcus de Vestele, Gundi Falk, René Mels, Eugène Eechaut and many others.
From intimate drawings to large formats, there is something for every taste and every budget. The vast majority of my auctions start at 1 € with no reserve price, giving everyone the chance to acquire unique pieces.
Every shipment is prepared with the utmost care using professional museum-quality packaging to ensure perfect condition upon arrival.
Join my growing community of satisfied clients and follow my new auctions to discover rare works from these exceptional studios.
Thank you for your trust and happy bidding!
SR Fine Art
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Artist
Robert Detheux (1932-2010)
Sold by
Owner or reseller
Edition
Original
Title of artwork
Maternité surréaliste - 2008
Technique
Crayon
Signature
Hand signed
Country of origin
Belgium
Year
2008
Condition
Good condition
Height
50 cm
Width
36 cm
Style
Surrealism
Period
2000-2010
Sold by
