Author: VELDE Henry van de - Alfons van UFFELEN ( photographer ) :
Title: Two holograph letters of Henry van de Velde and an original portrait photograph of him by van Uffelen.
Description: .: 14. Original photograph portrait of Henry van de Velde, signed in pencil by the photographer, size 22,5 x 16,5 cm, added are two holograph letters by Henry van de Velde addressed to the photographer and dated Oct. 20th (19)43 and Nov. 22nd (19)43. Letters of 2 pp, written on paper with the printed footer of '' la nouvelle maison'', 1 avenue albert, tervueren. From the letters we can deduce that the the portrait was taken on Tuesday 12th October and that 5 different poses were taken, of which van de Velde preferred the third. (We can't be sure that our portrait is the third, but the fact that the letters remained with this photograph makes this very likely). The architect , being just over 80 years old , sits in a three-quater pose with his hands folded in his lap. His left arm shows prominently a large black lozenge stiched to his jacket, mourning attire for his wife Maria Sèthe, who died the previous year. In the two letters the architect thanks the photographer and states that he is very pleased with it, he also writes about his publications of which he sends one to the photographer. Alfons van Uffelen (1895 - 1983) started as picturalist, follower of e.g. Misonne, he became professor at the School of Photography of the Gevaert Company (later Agfa-Gevaert). A large part of his studio was sold in auction in Paris Drouot May 25th year 2000. As far as we could verify this photograph was not included in the sale. .

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