Le Réveil (waking), Julie de Belleroche

Medium: Lithograph
Dimensions: 11 3/4 x 12 inches (Image) 16 1/2 x 12 3/4 inches (Sheet)
Signature: Signed
Artist details: Welsh / English, 1864 - 1944
Date finished: 1911
Provenance: Collection: Bibliothèque Royal, Brussels
Condition: Good condition

Recommended by Rebecca (Gallery Associate):

While revisiting Albert de Belleroche's work before the Russell-Cotes Museum exhibition (opening this month) I was again struck by how free and expressive he was as a lithographer, using his stone as if it were a sheet of paper and not an expensive, precious, tool for the final stage of printmaking. He was a talented printer, editing and altering his drawing on the stone. But much of the character of his lithographs comes from the fact that he didn't have to worry about the financial challenges of being an artist. Each impression is its own, not preoccupied with being a perfect match for the edition but rather welcoming variation. In this piece, the hair and clothing are loose and sketch-like, rich in texture, while the eyes, nose, and mouth are carefully constructed. The chaos and contrast around her face draws us into her expression.