Getty Museum Acquires Its First Pointillist Painting by Georges Lemmen
The J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles has added a significant work to its European collection: Georges Lemmen’s painting titled Portrait of his Sister Julie Crocheting, also recognized as Young Woman Crocheting. This artwork represents the museum's inaugural Pointillist acquisition, procured from Sotheby’s. Lemmen, associated with the Belgian avant-garde group Les XX, was influenced by Georges Seurat's iconic works in advancing his Pointillist technique. Unlike his contemporaries, he ventured beyond landscapes, applying this innovative style to portraiture. The piece, capturing his sister engaged in crocheting, reflects the influence of Dutch masters such as Vermeer, marking a notable enhancement to the collection.
Key facts
- The Getty Museum acquired Georges Lemmen's Portrait of his Sister Julie Crocheting, its first Pointillist painting.
- The painting is also known as Young Woman Crocheting.
- The acquisition was made through Sotheby's.
- Lemmen was a Belgian Neo-Impressionist and member of Les XX.
- He was inspired by Georges Seurat's A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte at the Les XX exhibition in Brussels in 1887.
- The portrait depicts the artist's older sister Julie crocheting.
- Art historians compare the painting to works by Johannes Vermeer and Nicolaes Maes.
- The acquisition expands the Getty's collection of European paintings and Belgian modernism.
Entities
Artists
- Georges Lemmen
- Georges Seurat
- Paul Signac
- Johannes Vermeer
- Nicolaes Maes
- Claude Monet
- Vincent van Gogh
- Camille Pissarro
- Paul Gauguin
- James McNeill Whistler
- Octave Maus
Institutions
- Getty Museum
- Sotheby's
- Les XX
- J. Paul Getty Museum
- Gallery 19C
- French & Company
- TEFAF Maastricht
Locations
- Los Angeles
- United States
- Brussels
- Belgium
- Maastricht
- Netherlands