Important Bronze Bust, Portrait Of A Man, Signed By Joseph Van Goolen, On Marble Base

This bronze bust by Joseph Gérard Van Goolen (1885-1944) is a work representative of the technical and artistic quality of Belgian sculpture at the beginning of the 20th century. Van Goolen, a Belgian sculptor renowned for his portrait work and his bronze works, is part of the lineage of artists of the period who were able to capture the personality and soul of their models with great realism and expressive intensity. The bust represents a man whose identity is not specified, but whose features are rendered with remarkable precision. The man's face, turned slightly to the right, displays a serious and introspective expression. The eyes are particularly striking, exuding a depth that invites contemplation. The slightly drooping eyelids and closed mouth give the face a solemnity that contrasts with the smooth, polished surface of the bronze, patinated a rich brown. This patina highlights the play of light on the curves of the face, accentuating the shadows and the relief of the features. The realistic treatment of the bust demonstrates Van Goolen's expertise in mastering volumes and textures, while maintaining a certain softness in the modeling of the forms. The sculpture rests on a solid marble base, which measures approximately the same height as the bust itself. This marble, green in color with gold and brown veins, creates a striking contrast with the bronze. The choice of marble reinforces the impression of robustness and elegance of the work. In addition, the polished stone slightly reflects the light, which further enhances the visual impact of the bust. This base firmly anchors the sculpture and gives it an imposing, almost monumental stature, despite its relatively modest size. On the back of the bust, we can read the inscription "Bronze de St Gilles à Bruxelles", which refers to the foundry workshop where the piece was made. Saint-Gilles, a Brussels municipality, was known for being home to several art foundries in the early 20th century, which collaborated with renowned artists to produce high-quality bronze works. This type of inscription attests to both the authenticity of the work and the technical excellence of its production. The Saint-Gilles workshops were renowned for their expertise in lost-wax casting, an ancient technique that allows the artist to reproduce with great precision the details of his clay or plaster modeling. This precision is evident in this work, particularly in the rendering of the fine lines of the face and the quality of the finishes. Van Goolen, who produced several bronze works throughout his career, was particularly gifted at capturing the individuality of his subjects. This bust is a striking example, with particular attention paid to anatomical details while maintaining the artist's own stylization. The signature, affixed directly to the base of the bust, is another indicator of the artist's pride in this creation. This bust is a work that reflects the artistic trends of the early 20th century in Belgium, where bronze played a central role in monumental and domestic sculpture. The use of this material, associated with a renowned foundry, testifies to the care taken in the creation of the work. The bust of this man, although devoid of any specific attribute or context, has an expressive force that lies in the sobriety of its representation and the quality of the artist's work. The combination of bronze and marble gives this piece a timeless dimension, while fully in keeping with the classical tradition of sculpted portraiture. This sculpture is available for sale in my shop at 57 rue Victor Hugo, 76000 Rouen Possibility of delivery (ask for a transport quote) You can follow me on my Instagram by following this link: https://www.instagram.com/patrick.boussougant/ Back to the shop: Online sale of antique objects and furniture, purchase in complete security (abnantiquites.com)