Léon Spilliaert

Acquired from the artist by the grandfather of the present owner

This condition report has been provided by Jane McAusland FIIC, Nether Hall Barn, Old Newton, Suffolk IP14 4PP Support The artist has used a small sheet of wove paper. There are brown tapes on the verso and at present it is attached on the left-hand side to glass. There is slight time staining at the foot of the sheet. Otherwise the condition is good. Medium The medium is very good, sharp and strong and in a very good condition. Note: This work was viewed outside studio conditions.
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Hibou of 1918 predates by two years another related work depicting an owl sitting in a tree (see Anne Adriaens-Pannier, Spilliaert, le regard de l'âme, Brussels, 2006, p. 267, illustrated). The present work in its sombreness and arabesque abstractness is a much more stylised version of the theme. Spilliaert was very fond of nature, particularly trees, and he depicted trees, branches and forests repeatedly throughout the 1920s, 30s and 40s (see also Etang, lot ...). While rooted in his love of nature, Hibou is also an expression of Spilliaert's fascination with japonisme, which he felt was sympathetic to his aims of simplification and synthesis as well as allowing for new, exciting viewpoints through one of its hallmark stylistic features: the truncation of a motif.

Please also see note for lot 135.