La récolte des pommes de terre - Potato harvest

Details

Gustave De Smet (Belgian, 1877-1943)
La récolte des pommes de terre - Potato harvest
signed 'Gust. De Smet' (lower left)
oil on paper laid down on board
45.7 x 63.5 cm.
Executed circa 1930.

Provenance

Emanuel and Maja Hoffmann, probably acquired from the artist circa 1930 during which time they were living in Brussels and became acquainted with the painter. A group of works by Gustave De Smet dating from the 1930s and 40s is currently in the Emanuel Hoffmann Stiftung, Basel.
A gift to the previous owner from Maja Hoffmann in the 1930's.
Anon.sale London, Sotheby's 28 June 1989, lot 131.

Literature

For the larger, more finished version see: P. Boyens, Gust. De Smet, Antwerp 1989, p. 397, no. 826 (private collection). For preparatory drawings, see: P. Boyens, Gust. De Smet, p. 333, no. 318-320.

Special notice

Christie's charges a Buyer's premium calculated at 20.825% of the hammer price for each lot with a value up to €90,000 (NLG 198.334). If the hammer price of a lot exceeds €90,000 then the hammer price of a lot is calculated at 20.825% of the first €90,000 plus 11.9% of any amount in excess of €90,000. Buyer's Premium is calculated on this basis for each lot individually.

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Lot Essay

In 1930 Gustave De Smet moved to the countryside of Deurle. The life of the farmers became his main inspiration. As Boyens states: "Although Gustave De Smet had great respect for these farmers, there was no political or social commitment". Such can be found by Van Gogh or Eugène Laermans. His main interest was above all the pictural order on the canvas.
Piet Boyens, Gust. De Smet, Antwerp 1989, p. 224

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