Les voeux de Nouvel An 1918

"Les voeux de Nouvel An" (New Year's Wishes) is a 1918 work by Belgian Symbolist artist Léon Spilliaert. This black and white drawing depicts a group of children gathered around a seated woman in a domestic setting. The scene evokes a sense of melancholic intimacy, perhaps reflecting the somber mood of the time, as the world was engulfed in the throes of World War I. The children's expressions are solemn, and the woman's figure is shrouded in darkness, emphasizing the sense of isolation and the weight of an uncertain future. This work is a striking example of Spilliaert's signature style, characterized by elongated figures, stark lines, and a sense of psychological depth.