In the exhibition Dirk Braeckman / Léon Spilliaert Kunstmuseum Den Haag confronts the work of two defining Belgian artists: Léon Spilliaert (1881-1946) and Dirk Braeckman (1958). Although these two artists’ lifetimes did not overlap and although Spilliaert mostly made ink or pencil drawings and Braeckman mainly works with photography, their works exhibit numerous visual and thematic similarities. Stillness, absence, isolation and suggestion are recurring themes, grey tones dominate, and both artists opt for an unconventional framing. Their work has clear roots in the Symbolist tradition, but above all they share an emotional affinity in expressing the mysteries of life – an affinity that can hardly be captured in words. All the more reason to investigate this visually in a major exhibition.