“Spilliaert was a truly original artist in the literal sense; he had no formal training, and I believe it is clear that he forged his own path, both stylistically and technically. (...) Of course, the subjects – tranquil interiors, mysterious landscapes, seascapes, veiled women – are very typical of his time. Yet, the way he interprets them on paper is incredibly unique and peculiar. And that is precisely what makes him so appealing."
Dr. Daan van Heesch is curator in charge of the Department of Prints and Drawings at the Royal Library of Belgium (KBR), which holds the largest public collection of works by Spilliaert. In 2019, he obtained a PhD in Art History from KU Leuven with a dissertation on Hieronymus Bosch. His current research focuses on Netherlandish art of the ‘long’ sixteenth century and Belgian works on paper from the fin de siècle. Among his most recent publications are the exhibition catalogue Ensor & Brussels (2024) and the collection catalogue Bruegel and Beyond: Netherlandish Drawings in the Royal Library of Belgium, 1500–1800 (2022).