An Angel, 1889

About the Work

The serious-looking angel and the seductive sphinx are an odd couple. But there is no discord in this hierarchical relationship: with a delightful smile, the hybrid creature acknowledges the touch of the guardian angel, who is beginning to merge into the background. Khnopff’s photograph depicts a harmonious coexistence of ideal and nature, represented by the figures. By hand-colouring a photograph of his work, he turned a reproduction into an artwork in its own right.