Darkness, introspection and a sense of unease run through Soleil Noir. Taking Léon Spilliaert’s work as its starting point, Villa Empain brings together artists from different generations, linked by themes such as self-image, melancholy, landscape and the North Sea.

Spilliaert’s Self-Portrait from 1906, from The Phoebus Foundation collection, sits naturally within that atmosphere. The young artist turns partly towards the viewer, meeting our gaze with an almost distant intensity. Set against a dark background, the portrait feels both restrained and charged: less a conventional image of the artist than a study of presence, identity and inner tension.

Soleil Noir runs from 22 October 2026 to 19 March 2027 at Villa Empain in Brussels. More information and tickets via villaempain.com.