Les voeux de Nouvel An 1918

Curator: L\u00e9on Spilliaert’s “Les Voeux de Nouvel An,” created in 1918, employs ink on paper in what seems like a scene of domestic celebration, almost stark in its rendering. What do you make of this, at first glance? Editor: There's something so fragile and wistful about it. The pale palette gives it an almost ghostly quality, like a memory fading at the edges. That steeple outside the window is a lonely sentinel watching over this intimate gathering. Curator: It's fascinating how Spilliaert blends genres; this could be a portrait, genre painting, and yet whispers of Northern Renaissance aesthetics are evident in the linear quality of the ink work. The material reality speaks of economy – post war scarcity might have informed the choice of ink and paper over paint. Editor: Precisely. I wonder if those apples scattered on the floor represent hope and prosperity for the coming year, a vibrant contrast to the monochrome scene, or maybe the ephemerality of such hope? Like shiny, tempting distractions that are gone all too quickly! Curator: Their placement feels very deliberate, grounding the ethereal quality with everyday life. Analyzing the composition, it's impossible not to notice how the window, the curtain, and even the steeple create a frame within the frame, emphasizing both confinement and outlook, very telling details indeed. Editor: Agreed, and that's Spilliaert for you, isn’t it? Pulling you in with a comforting domestic scene, only to unsettle you with an undertow of longing. I bet the paper itself holds a secret narrative, too. Where did he source it during that period? Was it reused, rationed, treasured? All of it must bleed into the artwork. Curator: Undoubtedly. It adds layers to how we should interpret his artistic labor. The scarcity, or provenance of his material could definitely highlight the sociopolitical backdrop influencing such artistry. Editor: Ultimately, I'm left with a sense of poignant tenderness and quiet celebration, underscored by the shadow of larger, unspoken anxieties. Even with simple materials and technique, it whispers secrets about life and yearnings in a world ravaged by war. It truly echoes a sentiment that even the simplest, quiet moments of hope matter, despite the grimness of the wider social-political world. Curator: A reflective sentiment fitting for the turning of the year, then. A compelling reminder to look closer, considering material conditions even in the most seemingly gentle scenes.