De engel der schitteringen / L'Ange des splendeurs

SYMB 7322

In the middle of a hazy landscape worthy of Leonardo da Vinci, a male body overwhelmed with pleasure breaks away from earthly chains and the signs of sin symbolized by snakes.

He ascends to the heavens, guided by an angel of light erected as a glowing number. Delville’s painting is an allegory. Woman has become the agent of this liberation which leads to knowledge.

Discretely, Delville reversed the direction of the Fall and challenged the decadent imagination which limited woman to a purely evil register. The lyricism of the line’s aerial flow and the upwards movement heralds the emergence of Art Nouveau (from Michel Draguet, in 'Gillion Crowet : 20 chefs-d'oeuvre de la collection', Brussels, RMFAB, 2006, p. 31)

English Translation by Marianne Reynolds (2010)