Frans Van Holder (1881 – 1919) - Portrait of a Young Woman

Frans Van Holder
Ixelles 1881 – 1919 Geneva
Belgian Painter

'Portrait of a Young Woman in White – The Artist’s Wife'
Signature: Signed top left and dated 1906?
Medium: Oil on canvas
?Dimensions: diameter: image size 96 cm, frame size 120,50 cm

Biography: Van Holder Frans, born in Brussels in 1881, emerged as a prominent post-Impressionist painter during the Belle Epoque and Art Nouveau era. Initially a painter-decorator in his father’s workshop, he contributed to the adornment of Brussels’ bourgeoisie interiors, setting the stage for his alignment with the Art Nouveau movement.
Van Holder studied under Alfred Cluysenaar at the Saint-Gilles Academy. His artistic evolution embraced Impressionist principles, influenced by luminosity proponents like Manet and Pissarro.
After formal training at the Sint-Gillis Academy and travels through Spain, Italy, and Switzerland, Van Holder returned to Brussels in 1905, joining the esteemed ‘Pour l’Art’ association. Rejecting theoretical constraints, he prioritized harmony in his art, viewing color as a musical composition requiring rhythm and balance.
Van Holder’s mastery extended to intimate post-impressionist portraits, notably capturing the Brussels aristocracy like the Wolfers family. His repertoire included historical scenes, genre paintings, and landscapes, characterized by delicate richness and muted nuances.
Tragically, Van Holder’s life was cut short at 38, with his passing on March 15, 1919, in Geneva. Despite his brief tenure, his legacy endures through harmonious compositions that resonate in the annals of art history. His works found homes in the collections of various prestigious institutions and private collectors, including Musea Brugge , Museum of Fine Arts Ghent , Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp.