Curatorial Narrative In the absence of a precise creation date, we are left to ponder the temporal locus of Eugeen Van Mieghem’s “De hoogstaande vrouw”, an enigmatic figural composition that embodies the tensions between Modernist praxis and Art Deco ornamentation. The artist’s linear brushwork, characteristic of his work from this period, imbues the subject with a sense of tautness, as if the very fabric of reality has been stretched to its limits. The monochromatic palette, rendered in sepia tones that evoke the patina of aged wood and worn stone, lends an air of timelessness to the scene, one that transcends the vicissitudes of fashion and trend.As “De hoogstaande vrouw” is enlarged to 44×63, its spatial rhythm becomes more pronounced, with the chromatic structure exerting a profound influence on the surrounding environment. The sepia tones assume a more dramatic quality, casting long shadows across adjacent surfaces and imbuing