HENRI LANGEROCK | The Iguazu Waterfalls, Brazil

Possibly, Brussels, Place Poelaert, 1889 (as Diorama, Village indien de l’Amerique du Sud)

The canvas has not been lined and is securely attached to a keyed wooden stretcher. Clusters of small spots of paint loss are visible in the sky, as also visible in the catalogue illustration. These could benefit from some restoration. Inspection under ultra-violet light reveals two, circa 10cm, horizontal lines of cosmetic retouching in the sky in the upper right and upper left corner respectively, possibly addressing some paint flaking. These are also visible to the naked eye upon close inspection. However, the main composition appears to be untouched. This work is overall in good condition. Presented in a decorative gilt frame with some losses.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The present view is a rare example of Henri Langerock’s panoramic views of Brazil, in which the grandiose Iguazu waterfalls (on the modern-day border between Brazil and Argentina) serve as a backdrop to the depiction of a village of indigenous people. On the left, a group of men can be seen leaving the thick jungle, possibly returning from hunting, while to the right another group is cooking food on the fire. In the centre, men armed with bows and arrows guard the entrance to the village. The precision in detail in depicting the multitude of events happening in the scene, as much as the attention to the tropical flora, is telling of the artist’s ethnographic interest and of his expert eye as a photographer. Having trained at the art academy in Ghent, Belgium, Langerock travelled to Italy, Africa and South America. He lived in Brazil between 1881-1886, where he collaborated with Brazilian painter Victor Meirelles (1832-1903) on a panoramic view of the city of Rio de Janeiro. Painted in 1887, Panorama de la Ville de Rio de Janeiro won them the Gold Medal at the 1889 Exposition universelle in Paris. It appears that same year Langerock presented in Brussels another painting titled Diorama, Village indien de l’Amerique du Sud, which could possibly be identified with the present work.