Ignace Brice

IGNACE BRICE (Belgium, 1795-1866).
"Self-portrait," 1822.
Charcoal on paper.
Signed and dated in the middle left area.
Measurements. 60 x 50 cm; 82 x 69,5 cm (amrco).
In his self-portrait, Ignace Brice represents himself with sobriety and acute psychological observation. The drawing reveals a firm and sure stroke, typical of an artist accustomed to the academic study of the human figure. His gaze, directed towards the viewer, conveys a mixture of introspection and self-assertion as a creator, while the modeling of the features, particularly the attention to the eyes and the restrained expression of the mouth, give the portrait a strong presence. The economy of resources, without decorative excesses, foregrounds the intensity of the face and the artist's intimate reflection on his identity.
Ignace Brice was a Belgian painter who trained at the Brussels Academy and who, from very early on, showed an inclination for the genre of portraiture and the painting of everyday scenes. His style is framed in the neoclassical tradition, although he was able to incorporate realistic nuances that gave his works a close and truthful character. He was in contact with artists of his time and was considered heir to the pictorial sensibility of Jacques-Louis David, who had lived in Brussels during part of his exile.
Brice cultivated both commissioned portraits, intended for the bourgeoisie and official circles, and genre compositions in which he reflected aspects of urban life with a balanced look between academic rigor and observation of nature. His prestige led him to participate in the artistic life of the Belgian capital, where his work was appreciated in the salons and in the cultural environment of the time. His legacy is integrated within the Belgian artistic movement of the 19th century, in which he played a prominent role as a representative of a refined painting, with an intimate sensitivity and attention to detail.