Fernand Khnopff 1858 - 1921
100th Anniversary of his death
5 November 2021
Fernand Khnopff was a Belgian painter, draftsman, photographer, sculptor, and writer associated with Symbolism and known best for his paintings that blend precise realism with an ethereal dreamlike atmosphere.
At a time of prosperity for 19th-century Belgium and artistic emulation, Fernand Khnopff chose to follow his own creative path. The Belgian artist had no interest in illustrating the modern world. Instead, he focused on symbolic representations of his favorite themes: absence, impossible love, and withdrawal. Khnopff worked using different mediums such as paint, pastel, and pencil colour. He built his art as enigmas, leaving clues and symbols so the spectator could try to interpret his worlds. Khnopff took his inspiration from Pre-Raphaelite aesthetics. Yet he also left an enduring influence on renowned artists such as Gustav Klimt and René Magritte.