If all of the world´s cultural heritage was contained in

a time capsule, what would you include to

demonstrate the legacy of your country?

Belgium

Claire d’Ursel

The region known today as the Kingdom of Belgium is home to major artistic movements which had an important influence on European

art.

• Flemish painters from regions known today as Belgium from the Renaissance and Baroque periods are amongst the most talented worldwide.

• Roman and Gothic architecture as well as Art Nouveau are major elements from the History of Art.

• Cartoons are a typical form of art in Belgium in the 20th century and have influenced the development of European comics.

XVII century : Most talented painters worldwide include Flemish artists (from

regions today known as Belgium)

• Sir Anthony Van Dyck

• Peter Bruegel The Elder (XVI century)

• Peter Brueghel The Younger

• Sir Peter Paul Rubens

Peter Bruegel (The Elder) “The Peasant Dance” ca. 1568

I chose this artist because of his beautiful style and his focus on the lives of Flemish peasants.The humanizing spirit he brought to his paintings and the comical scenes he depicts had a long lasting impact and might have inspired the later Belgian comic books.

I chose this artist for the precision, delicacy and realism in his extremely beautiful portraits. Van Dyck was the most important Flemish painter of the 17th century after Rubens, his teacher.

Anthony Van Dyck “Self Portrait” ca. 1621

Peter Brueghel (The Younger) “ The Village Lawyer” ca. 1621

Again, I chose this artist because of the contradiction in his work between subtlety in the description of the everyday lives of Flemish commoners, and grotesque imagery.

Peter Paul Rubens “Elevation of The Cross” 1610-1611

I chose this artist because of his commitment to grand scale paintings. He is a proponent of extravagant Baroque style emphasizing sensuality and movement.

XIX- XX centuries

• Roman, Gothic and Baroque architecture

• Victor Horta is the leader in Art Nouveau architecture and influenced the 20th century architecture in Belgium and abroad

Romanesque “Cathedral Notre Dame de Tournai” 12th century

Gothic Cathedral of Our Lady in Antwerp 15th century

Photograph of architect Victor Horta at work

I chose this artist because he was the first one to introduce Art Nouveau to architecture. Horta was the most important Belgian architect of Art Nouveau in Europe.

XX century artists• Symbolism: Leon Spilliaert • Expressionism: James Ensor• Surrealism: René Magritte and Paul

Delvaux• Poetry: Emile Verhaeren & Georges

Simenon

I chose this self-taught artist because of the luminous way he uses black. He was an important Belgian painter from the Symbolism movement.

Léon Spilliaert “Clair de Lune et Lumières” 1900

James Ensor “Christ’s Entry into Brussels” 1888

I chose this artist because of his interest in colors and grotesque atmospheres.Ensor was an important precursor to the development of Expressionism in the early 20th century.

I chose this artist because he represents Surrealism in Belgium and abroad.He has a widespread impact on the advertising industry namely: his poetical pictures have been imitated in many advertisements.

René Magritte “The Son of Man” 1964

Paul Delvaux “The Great Sirens” 1947

I chose this artist because of his unique style in surrealism: he wouldn’t admit he’s a surrealist. Delvaux was famous for his nude women.

I chose this artist because of his interesting description of his region of origin, Flanders. He was the founder of the school of Symbolism.

Emile Verhaeren “Des Soirs ” 1888

Sur mes livres éteints, où comme en un miroirJ’ai reflété mon cœur lassé, mon cœur du soir,Après un jour vécu sans gloire et sans vaillance,Lampes immobiles, larmez, dans le silence,Vos feux pour le sommeil qui vient, torpidement,Clore mes yeux fanés et mon attristement ;Lampes, brûlez, durant des heures et des heuresEncor, inutiles pour tous, mais les meilleuresPour le rêve veiller — dont mon esprit, hélas !Au clair sonnant matin ne se souviendra pas.

Belgian ComicsBelgium has many well-known cartoonists:

• The Adventures of Tintin by Hergé in 1929• Spirou & Fantasio by André Franquin in 1938• Blake & Mortimer by Edgar P. Jacobs in 1946• Spike and Suzy by Willy Vandersteen in 1946• The Smurfs by Peyo in 1958

The Adventures of Tintin, Hergé

I chose this artist because he was the most talented comics’ author. He is a father to Belgian comics and made a legend out of Tintin the reporter. He influenced greatly the development of comics in Europe.

Spirou et Fantasio, André Franquin

Young and old readers identify themselves to Spirou as nobody really knows how old the character is. A brilliant way for the author to deal with sensitive subjects accessible to everyone.

Blake & Mortimer, Edgar P. Jacobs

I chose this artist because he was the first one to use science-fiction in comics. He was the founding father of European comics movement with Hergé. Still today, thousands of people follow the adventures of Blake & Mortimer.

I chose these artists because of his interesting use of time in his comics. It is a contemporary book, however he uses time machines bringing characters back to the Middle Age.Together, they had the biggest influence on Flemish authors.

Spike & Suzy, Willy Vandersteen and Paul Geerts

I smurfed this artist because of the originality of these imaginary little creatures.The Smurfs are smurfed worldwide and probably the most famousBelgian icons after beer and chocolate.The Smurfs are smurfed by all readers, they smurf in mushroom houses in the woods and smurf a happy life when Gargamel is not around.

The Smurfs, Peyo

In conclusion, Belgium has a rich history of art. Its heritage comes partly from the colonizations until Belgium’s independence in 1831.Its multilingualism facet and different cultural communities brought together the Walloons, the Flemish and the German to create an original culture. That’s what I am the most proud of and that’s what I want my country to be remembered for (but also chocolate, beer and waffles).