Belgium Meunier, Constantin Slag heap in the Borinage. Circa 1885. Oil on wood. 39 x 61.8 cm. Signed. Framed in gold-coloured stucco frame. Provenance: Campo, 1998 Antwerp. - Bassenge 2018, auction 111 lot 8262 - The Borinage, an industrial landscape around the city of Mons in Belgium, was one of the most important coalfields in Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries. Constantin Meunier was deeply impressed by the industrial landscape there and the harsh reality of working life, which inspired him to create numerous depictions. He impressively captures the suffering existence of miners, depicting desolate landscapes dotted with ruins and smoking chimneys, as in our work. Placed in the background by Meunier, the industrial plant with the smoking chimney initially appears to be of secondary importance and yet, when looking at the foreground, it becomes clear that it determines the composition, enveloping the surroundings in a gloomy, smoky and almost unreal atmosphere. Formed from a formerly idyllic, green and fertile landscape, Meunier shows in the wasteland depicted a symbol of the destruction of natural beauty through the exploitation of industrialisation. - With a few small wood chips in the margin, varnish minimally yellowed, minimal retouching visible in places under UV. Very good overall. Impressive landscape in atmospheric, subdued tonality. Belgium. - Oil on wood. Signed. Framed in gold-coloured stucco frame. - Provenance: Campo, 1998 Antwerp. - Bassenge 2018, auction 111 lot 8262 - The Borinage, an industrial landscape around the city of Mons in Belgium, was one of the most important coalfields in Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries. Constantin Meunier was deeply impressed by the industrial landscape and the harsh reality of workers' lives there, which resulted in numerous depictions. He impressively captures the suffering existence of miners, depicting desolate landscapes characterised by ruins and smoking chimneys, as in our work. Placed in the background by Meunier, the industrial plant with the smoking chimney initially appears to be of minor interest and yet, when looking at the foreground, it becomes clear that it determines the composition, enveloping the surroundings in a gloomy, smoky and almost unreal atmosphere. Formed from a previously idyllic, green and fertile landscape, Meunier portrays the fallow land as a symbol of the destruction of natural beauty through the exploitation of industrialisation. - With few small wood chips in the margin, varnish minimally yellowed, minimal retouches visible in few spots under UV light. Very good overall. Impressive landscape in an atmospheric, sombre tonality. This lot is taxed. A surcharge of 24.95% will be added to the hammer price and 7% (books, art) or 19% VAT (manuscripts, silkscreens, offset prints, photographs) to the final invoice amount in the European Union. This work is subject to the regular margin scheme. There is a 24.95% buyer's premium on the hammer price and 7% (Books and Art) or 19% VAT (Manuscripts, Screenprints, Offsetprints and Photographs) on the final invoice amount in the European Union.