Works

This exhibition at David Zwirner, Paris, features works by Belgian artist Léon Spilliaert (1881–1946), focusing on pieces from the 1900s and 1910s. Spilliaert, known for his psychologically intense and mysterious works on paper, developed a unique style influenced by Symbolist literature and the coastal city of Ostend. The exhibition includes still lifes of flasks and jars, self-portraits, nocturnal coastal landscapes, and solitary figures.

Spilliaert’s compositions often convey melancholy and stillness, reflecting his personal experiences, including insomnia and his life in Ostend. He employed a variety of media, such as watercolor, gouache, pastel, and ink, on portable paper supports. His work, characterized by enigmatic compositions and distinctive use of light and shadow, has influenced later artists like Luc Tuymans. The exhibition also touches upon his literary interests, particularly the influence of Belgian playwright Maurice Maeterlinck, and his significant connection to Paris, where he held his first solo exhibition.