Landschap – Keignaertkreek te Zandvoorde 1931

Léon Spilliaert made this watercolor landscape sometime during his career; it captures a creek near Zandvoorde. Look at the earthy tones he's chosen, that sepia wash creating a somber, almost dreamlike atmosphere. Watercolor can be tricky; it’s all about layering, and the way Spilliaert builds up these translucent washes is so skillful. Notice how the land meets the water, that soft edge, a kind of blurry, undefined boundary. It’s as if the world itself is dissolving. Then, there's that lone tree on the right, a skeletal silhouette against the sky. It reminds me of a Cy Twombly drawing, those simple lines pregnant with emotion. Spilliaert seems to anticipate artists like Gerhard Richter. Both encourage us to embrace the power of suggestion. It’s not about capturing a scene perfectly, but about evoking a feeling, hinting at a mood. That's what art is, after all: an ongoing conversation, a never-ending exploration.