Paul Delvaux: The Study of Nine Paintings by Non-Invasive Methods

Paul Delvaux (1897–1994) was a Belgian Surrealist painter known for his dreamlike and enigmatic compositions. His works often featured nude or semi-nude women and deserted urban landscapes, evoking a sense of mystery and intrigue. Delvaux’s meticulous attention to detail and masterful use of light a...

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Main Authors: Edène Derzelle, David Strivay, Antoine Defeyt, Sarah-Jane Klein, Francisca Vandepitte, Catherine Defeyt
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-11-01
Series:Heritage
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/6/11/376
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author Edène Derzelle
David Strivay
Antoine Defeyt
Sarah-Jane Klein
Francisca Vandepitte
Catherine Defeyt
author_facet Edène Derzelle
David Strivay
Antoine Defeyt
Sarah-Jane Klein
Francisca Vandepitte
Catherine Defeyt
author_sort Edène Derzelle
collection DOAJ
description Paul Delvaux (1897–1994) was a Belgian Surrealist painter known for his dreamlike and enigmatic compositions. His works often featured nude or semi-nude women and deserted urban landscapes, evoking a sense of mystery and intrigue. Delvaux’s meticulous attention to detail and masterful use of light and shadow added depth and realism to his surrealistic style, making him one of the leading figures of the Belgian Surrealist movement. Although writings about Paul Delvaux’s work are not lacking, the literature mainly deals with the stylistic and iconographic aspects of his work. Taking an interest in painting materials and the painter’s technique allows us to understand his personality and to apprehend his work in a different way. In order to collect such information, the early painted production of Delvaux was studied in situ with imaging methods (high-resolution photography, infrared reflectography and X-ray radiography) and non-invasive analytical techniques (MA-XRF and Raman spectroscopy). The results obtained for nine oil paintings produced from 1928 to 1958 are discussed in terms of the support, the preparatory layer, the preparatory drawing, the changes in composition and reuse of paintings, the pictorial layer and the dripping phenomenon.
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spelling doaj.art-b2ca63c5c43e4760aaa38ee59cb593da2023-11-24T14:45:03ZengMDPI AGHeritage2571-94082023-11-016117181720110.3390/heritage6110376Paul Delvaux: The Study of Nine Paintings by Non-Invasive MethodsEdène Derzelle0David Strivay1Antoine Defeyt2Sarah-Jane Klein3Francisca Vandepitte4Catherine Defeyt5CEA—Centre Européen d’Archéométrie, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, BelgiumCEA—Centre Européen d’Archéométrie, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, BelgiumCEA—Centre Européen d’Archéométrie, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, BelgiumCEA—Centre Européen d’Archéométrie, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, BelgiumRoyal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, 1000 Brussels, BelgiumCEA—Centre Européen d’Archéométrie, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, BelgiumPaul Delvaux (1897–1994) was a Belgian Surrealist painter known for his dreamlike and enigmatic compositions. His works often featured nude or semi-nude women and deserted urban landscapes, evoking a sense of mystery and intrigue. Delvaux’s meticulous attention to detail and masterful use of light and shadow added depth and realism to his surrealistic style, making him one of the leading figures of the Belgian Surrealist movement. Although writings about Paul Delvaux’s work are not lacking, the literature mainly deals with the stylistic and iconographic aspects of his work. Taking an interest in painting materials and the painter’s technique allows us to understand his personality and to apprehend his work in a different way. In order to collect such information, the early painted production of Delvaux was studied in situ with imaging methods (high-resolution photography, infrared reflectography and X-ray radiography) and non-invasive analytical techniques (MA-XRF and Raman spectroscopy). The results obtained for nine oil paintings produced from 1928 to 1958 are discussed in terms of the support, the preparatory layer, the preparatory drawing, the changes in composition and reuse of paintings, the pictorial layer and the dripping phenomenon.https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/6/11/376Paul Delvauxpainting analysisnon-destructive analysispigment identificationpainting materialpictorial technique
spellingShingle Edène Derzelle
David Strivay
Antoine Defeyt
Sarah-Jane Klein
Francisca Vandepitte
Catherine Defeyt
Paul Delvaux: The Study of Nine Paintings by Non-Invasive Methods
Heritage
Paul Delvaux
painting analysis
non-destructive analysis
pigment identification
painting material
pictorial technique
title Paul Delvaux: The Study of Nine Paintings by Non-Invasive Methods
title_full Paul Delvaux: The Study of Nine Paintings by Non-Invasive Methods
title_fullStr Paul Delvaux: The Study of Nine Paintings by Non-Invasive Methods
title_full_unstemmed Paul Delvaux: The Study of Nine Paintings by Non-Invasive Methods
title_short Paul Delvaux: The Study of Nine Paintings by Non-Invasive Methods
title_sort paul delvaux the study of nine paintings by non invasive methods
topic Paul Delvaux
painting analysis
non-destructive analysis
pigment identification
painting material
pictorial technique
url https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/6/11/376
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