Portret van Andrew Carnegie 1913

"Portret van Andrew Carnegie" (1913) is a portrait of the prominent industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie by Belgian Symbolist artist Léon Spilliaert. The painting is known for its dark, brooding atmosphere, which is characteristic of Spilliaert's work. The subject is depicted in a stark, almost skeletal fashion, with his features rendered in a simplified, almost geometric style. The dark background serves to further isolate Carnegie, highlighting his somber expression and hinting at a sense of loneliness or introspection. The painting captures the stark contrast between Carnegie's wealth and his solitary nature, a theme that resonates with Spilliaert's interest in the psychological depths of his subjects.