Albert Baertsoen (1866-1922): Evening on the dune, Mariakerke-aan-Zee, oil on canvas, ca. 1892

Work: 145,5 x 208,5 cm

Frame: 152,5 x 217 cm

Albert Baertsoen (1866-1922) and James Ensor (1860-1949) were close acquaintances. Baertsoen spent the summers in his spacious 'Villa des Hirondelles' on the seawall and he fully participated in society life in the seaside town. The personal contacts between Ensor and Baertsoen date from 1887 or perhaps earlier, because in 1887 Baertsoen was presented by Ensor with a copy of his etchings 'Le Christ apaisant la tempête' and 'Le verger', the latter with the dedication 'A mon ami Baertsoen, James Ensor 87', which suggests earlier contacts. Later Ensor also gave him a copy of 'Barques échouées'. Both artists were intensely involved with graphics at that time. The slightly older Ensor was probably a stimulating example for Baertsoen, and in any case a source of inspiration. Baertsoen's powerful and virtuoso painted seascapes from that period bear traces of Ensor's art, and he certainly also took a good look at his important etching 'Grande vue de Mariakerke' from 1887, the similarities with this canvas 'Avond op het duin' clearly indicate this. In 1889-1890 Baertsoen would make the church of Mariakerke twice the subject of an etching. One of them was published in 1890 under the title 'Village de Mariakerke' in the third album of the 'Société des aquafortistes belges' (Brussels, 1890). 

In this 'Avond op het duin, Mariakerke-aan-Zee', drenched in soft light, Baertsoen shows the dune village at the moment when the evening sun illuminates the gables and the tower of Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-ter-Duinenkerk and the dunes are covered by shadows. When around 1894 the entire site was threatened with demolition as a result of the expansion of Ostend, James Ensor and Albert Baertsoen successfully took on the defense of the dune church. It was restored and later protected as a monument.

We would like to thank Prof. dr. René Vermeir for this description and additional information (link).

Provenance:

- Ex-collection Albert Ceuterick, Ghent.

- Ex-collection Thermae Palace, Ostende.

- Ex-collection De Pesseroey, Deurle.

- Private collection, Belgium.

Ref.:

- The painting has been exhibited at various locations: The Hague (1892), Ghent (1892), Namur (1892), Berlin (1893), Paris (1894), Ghent (1925), Ghent (1972), Vinkem (1984), Hondschoote-Vinkem (2004) and Ghent (2022).

 - René Vermeir, Catalogue raisonné Albert Baertsoen, P.1892/11 (link).