Artwork
The old inn
The old inn is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Henri de Braekeleer. It is held in the collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition captures everyday activity in a Belgian inn of the late 19th century, emphasizing ordinary domestic routines rather than narrative drama.
The painting shows the interior of a modest tavern where a man and a woman sit at a counter beside a longcase clock, a bottle and a cup rest on a table, and a chair occupies the foreground. The composition captures everyday activity in a Belgian inn of the late 19th century, emphasizing ordinary domestic routines rather than narrative drama. By focusing on simple objects, a clock, a bottle, a cup, the work suggests the passage of time and the modest material comforts of the setting. The scene reflects the realist interest of the period in documenting contemporary middle-class environments.
Technique & Style
Henri de Braekeleer executed The Old Inn in 1889 using oil paint applied to a canvas support. The work measures 83.5 cm in height and 112.5 cm in width. This painting depicts an interior scene featuring an inn counter, furniture such as a table and chair, and figures including a man and a woman alongside objects like a longcase clock, bottle, and cup.
History & Provenance
The work titled The Old Inn was painted by Henri de Braekeleer in 1889 using oil on canvas. Its dimensions measure 83.5 cm in height and 112.5 cm in width. The painting depicts an interior scene featuring an inn counter, a chair, a table, a man and a woman, a longcase clock, a bottle, and a cup.
The piece has remained in the collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp, where it is displayed in its permanent galleries. No exhibition history or specific accession number is cited in the available sources.
Overview
Henri de Braekeleer, an Antwerp-born Belgian painter, completed The Old Inn in 1889 using oil paint. This genre scene captures a quiet, interior space, characteristic of the artist's focus on everyday life. The work is part of the collection at the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp, representing a significant example of his output.
Context
Henri de Braekeleer was a Belgian artist known for his genre paintings, which often depicted domestic interiors and scenes of daily life. His artistic development was shaped by his family's artistic legacy in Antwerp, particularly through the influence of his father and uncle. The Old Inn exemplifies his characteristic approach to capturing the quiet dignity of ordinary moments and settings.
Artist & collection
Artist
Henri Jean Augustin de Braekeleer (11 June 1840 – 20 July 1888) was a Belgian painter.
A Country Grocer
Le Franc, Wine Merchant, Boulevard de Clichy, Paris
The Pharmacy in the Sint-Janshospitaal in Bruges
Ranskalainen viinikapakka
A Gallery in the Old Museum
The Distillery of Apothecary A. d'Ailly
The Glass Engraver
The Artist's Workshop
The Shop of the Bookdealer Pieter Meijer Warnars on the Vijgendam in Amsterdam
Interior
