Moonlight and Light 1909

Léon Spilliaert made this drawing, Moonlight and Light, with what looks like charcoal and gouache. Just looking at it, I imagine the marks being made at night, you know, when you can’t see very well. I love how the drawing process, the decisions, everything, is so visible. Look at how the texture of the charcoal gives this feeling like the image is unfurling, or spiraling. And then there's the gouache, with these spots of light that seem to punctuate the darkness. I'm struck by how physical the light is, almost like the artist wants to reach out and touch the light. This is how I feel when I’m painting – like I could just dive right into the process. It reminds me of Hilma af Klint, who also makes these cosmic images. Both of them are interested in pulling something unseen into visibility. These artists are saying, "Look! The world is so much bigger and stranger than we think it is!"