Maneschijn door de bladeren van een treurwilg aan de rand van een meer Possibly 1893 - 1897

Herman Boulenger made this etching of moonlight through the leaves of a weeping willow on the edge of a lake at the turn of the 20th century. The image evokes a sense of melancholy and mystery, common in symbolist art of the period. Its themes of nature and solitude, remove it from the urban spaces usually found in art. Made in Belgium, the work would have been received as an avant-garde vision. Art institutions in Brussels at the time were in favour of a symbolist aesthetic, partly supported by the state, and partly by wealthy patrons. The etching medium itself, allowed for a level of detail and texture that aligns with the symbolist fascination for detail. Through archives, one might research the artistic networks and exhibition history of Herman Boulenger to understand how his art intersected with the social and institutional contexts of his time. This approach enables us to interpret the artwork as a reflection of its moment.