Leon Spilliaertartist • painter • watercolourist • draughtsmanOostende (België) 1881-1946 Brussel

After a short training at the Bruges Academy, the Belgian painter Leon Spilliaert developed an alienating and disturbing Symbolist style recalling the work of the Norwegian painter Edvard Munch (1863-1944). His work bears an affinity to Expressionism and Surrealism as well. Spilliaert painted mainly landscapes with a particular interest for trees, but after 1909 drew much inspiration from everyday life, painting portraits, figures and still lifes. He was a master watercolourist, who with sober means was able to render the essence of his subject matter. Spilliaert lived for a long spell in Brussels and travelled to the Netherlands, France, England and Germany.