Lot Essay
In 1948, Koch made his first portrait of his close friend, Lady J.C. van Boetzelaer. He was fascinated by her characteristic physiognomy and complexion that - without request - he made several portraits of her. Besides the present lot, there exists a larger portrait en profile, which was painted in the same year, a small and a large portrait en face and some drawings.
Compared to the larger portrait en profile, which is situated in an open, cloudless sky, the present lot has a more intimate atmosphere, due to the grayish-green background. Depth has been created by the fine shadows in the complexion of the sitter. As in many works by Pyke Koch the present lot is a fine example of the artist's desired confrontation with portraiture of the Italian renaissance.
See colour illustration
Compared to the larger portrait en profile, which is situated in an open, cloudless sky, the present lot has a more intimate atmosphere, due to the grayish-green background. Depth has been created by the fine shadows in the complexion of the sitter. As in many works by Pyke Koch the present lot is a fine example of the artist's desired confrontation with portraiture of the Italian renaissance.
See colour illustration