The Luxembourg Station in Brussels
The Luxembourg Station in Brussels is a painting by Henri Ottmann from 1903. It's displayed at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris.[1]
Salon of Free Aesthetics, Brussels, 1903. Henri Ottmann for the first time exhibited three views of the Luxembourg station, picturing one weather condition for each view: wind, frost and fog. It is highly probable that the painting was one of these three.
Standing on a bridge which shadow was crossing train tracks he got the composition. For sure he at least started working on the painting from that point. We can make sure in it since the station is still there serving passengers comfortable travels to various destinations.
Signal stands just behind the frame, we see the top of it. The idea of this motif floated from Monet’s Track signals outside Saint-Lazare station, 1877 (Hanover, Lower Saxony State Museum) since Ottmann was inspired by French Impressionists, particularly Renoir he especially admired. Take a look at the rail tracks — purely decorative impressionist motif.
Fundamental creations picturing modern subjects in ornamental way was one of the points of interest of Ottmann. The Luxembourg Station in Brussels fits perfectly to this ambition scale presented in pretty moderate size.
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