Belgian symbolist painter Léon Spilliaert created “The Crossing” in 1913. The artwork depicts a woman standing on the deck of a ship, set against a seascape background. Spilliaert’s paintings often revolved around solitary figures in dreamlike spaces that conveyed melancholy and silence.
Spilliaert found inspiration for “The Crossing” during his moonlight strolls to calm his insomnia-induced solitude. The eerie and enigmatic painting is an exploration of the netherworld between reality and dream, depicting a figure lost in thought as she stares out into the sea.
Spilliaert was known for his use of black in his works which drew parallels with Odilon Redon’s expressionism. In his later work, he frequently depicted seascapes, highlighting his fascination with the sea.
Today, “The Crossing” is available as an art print on canvas, poster, plate or finest hand-made paper with customizable sizes. Furthermore, handmade oil painting reproductions of this hauntingly beautiful work are also widely available.
