Bulldog

19th Belgian school oil on canvas signed Charles Hubert Denis Boland (1850-?). The work has texture to the touch.

A dog portrait is composed using swift, compact, textured brushstrokes. The outlines are accurate and lifelike. Light is a prominent element in this artwork, accentuating the head and the back of the body. Despite a somewhat gentle gaze, the piece conveys a feeling of contained power through the dark alley, the pointed collar, a few visible teeth, and the proud, rigid posture. This work departs from the tranquil and idyllic aesthetic found in Charles Hubert Denis Boland's interior animal scenes.

About the artist: 

Charles Hubert Denis Boland, a Belgian painter born in 1855 in Spa (in the Ardennes region), began his artistic journey in 1878 at the Antwerp Academy. Two years later, he exhibited his works at the Antwerp Salon and in Brussels. His portfolio encompassed genre scenes, landscapes, and portraits, but it was his animal paintings that brought him acclaim, a subject he explored alongside others in his earlier years. In 1883, he co-founded the Circle Als Ik Kan ("If I can") with fellow young artists in Antwerp, providing a platform for discussing their craft and finding exhibition opportunities.

The circle gained recognition, regularly showcasing his works in prominent Belgian Salons. They also participated in the General Exhibition of Fine Arts in Brussels in 1892 and the Triennial Salon of Fine Arts in Brussels in 1903.

Around the turn of the 20th century, he established his studio in Rixensart, near Brussels, before his trail grew faint. Boland left a lasting imprint on his era and the tradition of indoor animal paintings, particularly scenes featuring dogs and farm animals, always executed with precision and tenderness.

• Overall size: 18.5" x 22" / 47cm x 56cm.
  
• Size without the frame: 14.5" x 18.1" / 37.5cm x 46cm.
  
• Country: Belgium. 
• Signed: Charles Hubert Denis Boland (1850-?).
• Date: Late 19th century.
• Condition: The canvas has veins and cracks but remains protected by its varnish. The frame has some impacts and small gilding restorations.
  
• Materials: Oil on canvas with a wood and stucco frame.
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