With a massive fireplace to her left, a seated woman examines a large photographic portrait-perhaps depicting herself?

Guillaume Oury: 1840-1922

The landlord Oury, born and died in Liége, was interested in photography from an early age. He brought back numerous photographs from his travels. In 1874 he was one of the founding members of the Association Belge de Photographie, on whose board he served for many years. (1.) (translated)

The following historical chronology of the photographer appears courtesy of the Directory of Belgian Photographers hosted online by Fotomuseum Antwerp. (FOMU)

Person of private means (château owner). Trips to France (Alsace and the Vosges), Italy, Algeria and Tunisia. Genre studies reconstituted in the interior of his mansion, influenced by the precepts of Henry Peach Robinson. Founder member of the ABP. Member of the jury for Group 12 ‘Photography’ at the 1905 Liège international exhibition. Member of the ABP until his death.

1. Biography: Guillaume Oury: Kunstphotographie Um 1900: Die Sammlung Ernst Juhl; Hamburg: Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, 1989,  Lit.: Exhibition catalogue Antwerp 1970, p. 19 f.; Communication from the Musée de la Photographie, Charleroi. p. 270