Permeke schilderend te Sint-Martens-Latem in april 1912 (1912) Art Print | Leon Spilliaert

Léon Spilliaert was a Belgian symbolist painter and graphic artist, celebrated for his hauntingly atmospheric works. Largely self-taught, he developed a highly personal style marked by mystical moods, stark compositions, and expressive use of light and shadow.

Spilliaert is best known for his self-portraits, night scenes, and desolate coastal landscapes of Ostend, where he captured feelings of solitude, introspection, and the uncanny. His works, often executed in ink, watercolor, and gouache, carry a dreamlike intensity that bridges Symbolism, Expressionism, and early Modernism.

Deeply psychological, his art reflects themes of isolation, existential anxiety, and the spiritual dimension of everyday life. Today, Spilliaert is recognized as one of Belgium’s most original artists, whose visionary imagery continues to fascinate collectors and scholars alike.