De haven te Oostende 1909

This 1909 artwork by Belgian symbolist artist Léon Spilliaert, titled "De haven te Oostende," depicts a harbor scene at Ostend. The piece utilizes a minimalist palette, with subtle shading, giving the composition an atmospheric quality that is characteristic of Spilliaert's work. The foreground is dominated by the masts of ships, creating a network of vertical lines against the horizon, emphasizing the sense of isolation and solitude that often appears in Spilliaert's pieces. The viewer is given a sense of looking down upon the harbor, the scene simplified and flattened through Spilliaert's style. The piece is a good example of how Spilliaert's work combined an interest in the visual reality of the world around him with the use of symbolism to create an artistic experience.