Sets of identical twins are quite rare, even more so when they are both painters. The Gemeentemuseum in The Hague has just had an exhibition of the Oyens brothers, identical twins that lived in the last quarter of the 19th. century. David and Pieter spent most of their lives in Brussels, which was and still is, an international city bursting with new ideas and opportunities. They shared a studio, modelled for each other and moved in the same artistic circles. They painted mainly in oil and water colour, depicting daily life in cafes and also modelled for each other.
Needless to say, their painting technique was so similar that it is almost impossible to distinguish the one from the other when the painting is only signed Oyens.
I found their use of oil paint extraordinary. Close up it looks like the paint has been carefully thrown on the canvas and from a distance the finished piece is almost photographic. Also their use of colour is very good, with only bland brown/grey backgrounds, a splash of colour in the foreground in the form of an old red shirt or necktie is quite stunning. Their use of lighting is exceptionally good, especially with reflected light, Rembrandt would have been proud of them!
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