Portret van mijn broer 1907

Léon Spilliaert painted this portrait of his brother with brush and ink in a limited palette of monochrome washes. It’s a somber picture – the mood is contemplative, maybe a little melancholic. I wonder what it was like for Spilliaert, alone in his studio, trying to capture the essence of someone so close to him. You know, the way the ink bleeds and pools on the paper gives it this ephemeral, dreamlike quality. It's as if the portrait is emerging from the shadows, a fleeting glimpse of a memory. The stark contrast reminds me of the graphic power of Käthe Kollwitz. The brother's downward gaze suggests introspection, a quiet moment of reflection. It’s not just a likeness; it's an emotional landscape, a tender expression of sibling connection. And in the end, isn't that what painting is all about? Reaching across time and space and sharing a piece of ourselves with each other.