Mother and Daughter

2022 is the year of Louise De Hem

November marks the 100th anniversary of the death of this internationally renowned artist from Ypres. We are taking this opportunity to present her work and life in a major retrospective exhibition entitled “Louise”. Our collection includes no fewer than 90 pastels and oil paintings. Most are in excellent condition. However, some need a little freshening up. This is the case with “Mother and Daughter” from 1902.

Extremely precise work

There are traces of mould on this pastel. A thorough check of the photos in the database shows that they have been there for some time. Fortunately, the mould is no longer active, but the remains must be removed. No easy task! Pastel chalk artworks are extremely difficult to treat. The chalk particles lie loose on the paper and are disturbed by the slightest vibration or touch. With endless patience and precision, the paper restorer removes all traces of mould. UV light helps her to locate the mould, as it is difficult to see with the naked eye under normal lighting conditions. The pastel is given a new frame and looks beautiful again.

Mother and daughter

In this work, Louise Eulalie Dehem-Bartier portrays Hélène Ceriez-Dehem. Her mother and sister, both in profile to the left. Because Hélène has the same prominent hawk nose as her mother, she asks Louise to make it look a little more elegant. In the underlying pencil sketch, we can see the actual shape of her nose.

Louise regularly had her mother and sister pose for her. During the same period, she painted “Poverty”, which shows a young and an old woman in profile.