Page 23 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Brussels Bruges Ghent & Antwerp

A POR TR AIT OF BRUSSELS  21

dominated by the inf luence Surrealism
of other European schools.
François-Joseph Navez The 20th century began with
(1787–1869) introduc ed the emergence of Fauvism
Neo-Classicism to Flemish led by Rik Wouters (1882–
art. Realism took off with 1916), whose bright sun-filled
Constantin Meunier (1831– landscapes show the influence
1905) and Impressionism with of Cézanne.
Guillaume Vogels (1836–96). Surrealism began in Brussels
The Brussels-based Antoine in the mid-1920s, dominated
Wiertz (1806–65) was con- from the start by René
sidered a Romantic, but his Magritte (1898–1967). The
distorted and occasionally movement had its roots back
Self-portrait by Rubens, one of many from disturbing works, such as in the 16th century, with the
his lifetime Inhumation précipitée (c.1854) phantasmagoria of Bosch and
seem to have early Surrealist Pieter Brueghel the Elder.
The Antwerp Artists leanings. Fernand Khnopff Fuelled by the chaos of World
(1858–1921) was influenced War I, much of which took
In the 17th century, the main by the German Romantic place on Flemish battlefields,
centre of Belgian art moved Gustav Klimt. An early Magritte defined his
from the social capital, Brussels, exponent of Belgian disorientating Surrealism as
to Antwerp, in the heart of Symbolism, Khnopff’s “[restoring] the familiar to
Flanders. This move was largely work is notable for his the strange”. More
influenced by Pieter Paul portraits of menacing ostentatious and
Rubens (1577–1640), who and ambiguous emotional, Paul
lived in Antwerp. He was one women. Also on a Delvaux (1897–1994)
of the first Flem ish artists to journey from Naturalism produced elegant,
become known throughout to Surrealism, James freakish interiors
Europe and Russia. A court Ensor (1860–1949) Sculpture by occupied by ghostly
painter, Rubens was also an often used eerie Rik Wouters figures. In 1948, the
accomplished land scape artist skeletons in his work, COBRA Movement
and interpreter of mythology, reminiscent of Bosch. Between promoted abstract art, which
but is best known for his 1884 and 1894, the artists’ gave way in the 1960s to con-
depiction of plump women, cooperative Les XX (Les Vingt) ceptual art, led by installation ist
proud of their figures. Rubens reinvigorated the Brussels art Marcel Broodthaers (1924–76),
was so popular in his own time scene with exhibitions of who used daily objects, such as
that his bold and large-scale famous foreign and Avant a casserole dish full of mussels,
works were translated by Garde painters. for his own interpretation.
Flemish weav ers into series
of tapestries.
Anthony van Dyck (1599– Underground Art
1641), a pupil of Rubens and Some 58 Brussels metro stations have been decorated with a
court portraitist, was the combination of murals, sculptures and architecture by 54 Belgian
second Antwerp artist to gain artists. Although none but the most devoted visitor to the city is
world renown. The Brueghel likely to see them all, there are several notable examples.
dynasty continued to produce Anneessens was decorated by the Belgian COBRA artists,
notable figures: Jan Brueghel Dotremont and Alechinsky. In the Bourse, surrealist Paul
the Elder eventually settled in Delvaux’s Nos Vieux Trams Bruxellois is still on show with Moving
Antwerp to produce art with Ceiling, a series of
Rubens, while his son-in-law, 75 tubes that move
David Teniers II (1610–90) in the breeze by
founded the Ant werp sculptor Pol Bury.
Academy of Art in 1665. At Horta station, Art
Nouveau wrought
ironwork from
The European Influence Victor Horta’s now
destroyed People’s
The influence of Rubens was so Palace is displayed.
great that little innovation took Stockel is a tribute
place in the Flemish art scene to Hergé and his
in the 18th century. In the early Notre Temps (1976) by Expressionist Roger Somville boy hero, Tintin
years of the 19th century, at Hankar station (see pp24–5).
Belgian art was largely

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