Edward Portielje “The letter”, 19th Century Flemish oil Painting

This fine old oil painting depicts two ladies seated in a 19th-century interior. Opposite the woman on the right is an old wool spinner; the woman pauses in her work to look up and smile at her companion, who is holding a letter. The scene evokes domestic harmony and happiness, a favorite theme of Portielje. The Belgian artist had a natural inclination for sensitivity in the portrayal of his models, as is evident in this intimate and thoughtful depiction of the two women.

Edward Antoon Portielje (1861-1949) was an Antwerp artist who lived between the 19th and early 20th centuries. Portielje trained at the École des Beaux-Arts in Antwerp, where he studied with Charles Verlat, who also taught Vincent Van Gogh in the early 1880s. Portielje’s work is distinguished by its refined, naturalistic style and the use of delicate brushstrokes that capture the finest details of the subject. The artist’s skill is evident in this 19th-century painting, which expressively plays with light and tone to draw the viewer’s attention to the two women in the center. Portielje skillfully illuminates the two seated figures through the use of lighter shades, while darker tones are present at the edges of the canvas.

Framed in a beautiful carved and gilded wooden frame, the antique oil on canvas is signed “Edward Portielje” in the lower left corner. This work represents a unique opportunity to collect a painting by one of the most famous Flemish artists of his time.

Canvas height 45 cm, width 55 cm
With frame: height 64 cm, width 73 cm, depth 5 cm