L éon Spilliaert spent his life between Brussels and Ostend, the latter being his birthplace on the Blegian coast. His work was heavily influenced by the poems of Edgar Allan Poe and the writings of Friedrich Nietzsche.

Spilliaert's oeuvre is characterized by dramatic perspectives, sinister themes, and dark pallets allowing for powerful contrast. The nocturnal landscape is a common theme throughout his output, and we see it employed beautifully in the present work from 1927.

As with his most renowned works, Dogs in a Snowy Landscape incorporates very few warm hues; rather, grey, black, white, and muted blue dominate the sheet. The two dogs — the protagonists of the composition — appear as a spectre or vision, roaming across the landscape. In a letter from 1920, Spilliaert recounts: “I am living in a real phantasmagoria […] all around me dreams and mirages.” (quoted in Leon Spilliaert, exhibition catalog, Royal Academy of Arts, London)

Spilliaert’s fascinating life and enthralling artwork continues to captivate collectors and scholars. Most recently, the Royal Academy of Arts presented a monographic exhibition of the Belgian artist, comprised of around 80 works on paper -- highlighting his mastery of this medium, which is undeniably also evident in the present work.