De vuurtoren 1910

Léon Spilliaert made this mysterious and dreamlike crayon and ink work, "De vuurtoren", approaching his artmaking like a personal, internal process. The colors are muted yet luminous, creating an atmosphere that feels both otherworldly and deeply personal. Notice the texture, the way the crayon creates a soft, almost velvety surface, especially on the looming, textured lighthouse. The lighthouse dominates the composition, a solid, unwavering form rendered with tiny granular marks. It’s not just a structure, but a presence, a silent watcher. The rainbows and the ethereal figure add to the dreamlike quality. It's as if he's capturing a moment from his subconscious, a fleeting image that holds a deeper meaning. Spilliaert is like the Belgian Edward Hopper, but a bit weirder. In art, it's often the ambiguity, the things we can't quite put our finger on, that make a work so compelling, don't you think?