The Two Sisters or The Serruys Sisters

Georges Lemmen (Belgian, 1865-1916)

1894. oil on canvas with painted wood frame. 23.62 x 27.56 cm см. Indianapolis Museum of Art.

Eight-year-old Jenny and twelve-year-old Berthe Serruys are dressed identically, but their attention is focused in different directions. Lemmen has rendered his young subjects as distinct individuals with a compelling presence. The bold color scheme also contributes to the image’s power. Relying heavily on the Neo-Impressionist practice of using complementary colors, or opposites on the color wheel, Lemmen applied dots of green and orange pigments to create a vibrant contrast with the red dresses and blue background. The painted wooden frame is a rare surviving example of an original Neo-Impressionist frame.