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Henri van Booven as a young priest
Public domain

Henri van Booven as a young priest

Karel de Nerée tot Babberich · 1900 - 1901 · plakken; canvas; cardboard; pastel (crayon)

From the collection of Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.

About this work

The Nerée called this portrait of his writer friend 'Van Booven's priest image.' By doing so he compared the author to a priest who makes visible a higher reality. At that time Van Booven was writing his novel Tropenwee (Tropical Agony), about his stay in the Belgian Congo, from which he had returned deathly ill. His ghostly white face looms from the purple-blue-green background, reminiscent of a stifling tropical night.

Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam’s own description
Credit lineHenri van Booven als jonge priester. 1900 - 1901. Karel de Nerée tot Babberich. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Public domain.

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