THÉO VAN RYSSELBERGHE 1862-1926

Theo van Rysselberghe studied at Gand's Academy of Fine Arts and later at Bruxelle's Academy. His first artworks are still lives, portraits, rendered in a classic and realist manner.
A radical change occured in his art when he discovered in 1886-1887 George Seurat's artwork at the eighth Impressionist exhibition held in Paris. Up to 1900, his paintings were realized in a Pointillist manner. He is nowadays known as the leader of this movement in Belgium. Throughout this period he continued realizing portraits and still lives but also painted landscapes of Belgium and of the south of France.
Step by step, Theo van Rysselberghe's diverted from the Pointillist movement and used a larger and longer touch. His paintings of this period showed more realism. In parallel of his artistic career, Theo van Rysselberghe also practiced art decore, sculptures and illustrations.
Nowadays, his artworks are presented at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris, or in Holland at Otterlo's Kröller-Müller Museum.