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So you think you know Léon Spilliaert, the Belgian painter who lived around the turn of the 20th century and was particularly known for self-portraits, seascapes and snapshots of city life? You might think differently after seeing this exhibition.
The Patrick Derom Gallery has put together some 40 works by the late great artist, many of which have never been seen before. Titled Through Half-Open Doors, the exhibition flaunts interiors and still lifes, capturing “a climate of silence” in which the painter does in fact shine through.
Admirers might say it includes some of his greatest work, created during a time of illness and isolation in which he painted the objects around him, letting them take on a life of their own. The word animism comes to mind.
Is it “just another” Léon Spilliaert exhibition, or can you expect a rediscovery of an exceptional Belgian painter with a dark and fascinating history? You be the judge. You can find more information on the gallery’s website.
