Discover the Paul-Delvaux Museum: Experience Belgian Art!

Discover the Paul-Delvaux Museum: Experience Belgian Art!

Saint-Idesbald, Belgien - The Paul-Delvaux-Museum On the Flemish coast is a real treasure chest for art lovers and devotes himself to the life and work of the important Belgian painter Paul Delvaux. It houses the largest collection of its works worldwide and offers visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in the fantastic universe of the artist. The museum was founded in 1982 by Paul Delvaux himself and his nephew Charles van Deun. Originally started as a small, intimate museum, it has now developed on over 1,000 square meters and offers a remarkable example of the path of a personal project that has changed into an important art institute over time.

Delvaux was born on September 23, 1897 and is considered one of the most outstanding representatives of the surrealistic movement of the 20th century. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Brussels and worked from 1950 to 1962 as a lecturer at the national art and architectural school La Cambre. In addition to his artistic activity, he was president and director of the class for beautiful arts from the Royal Academy of Belgium from 1963. In 1952 he married his Muse Anne-Marie de Maertelaere.

the museum and its collections

originally housed in a former fishing house from the 19th century, the museum not only shows paintings, but also drawings, watercolors, sketches, prints and personal objects of Delvaux. Among the most important works are "La Gare Forestière", an impressive picture of a train station in the forest, and "Le Récitant", which plays with metaphysical topics. The museum actively promotes the spread of Delvaux ’art through exchange exhibitions and international loans.

After the artist's death on July 20, 1994, the museum opened its goals for a mourning community of over 2000 people who have proven the last honor. The Paul-Delvaux Foundation, founded in 1979, manages over 3,000 of his works and ensures that its heir is preserved.

extensions and renovations

In 1996, an underground expansion was created under a parking space opposite the main building. This includes a large -scale space of 29 m × 17 m, which offers space for a newly acquired collection of works, documents, photos and letters. After extensive renovation work, the Museum was reopened in 2016 and now offers visitors current facilities on an area of ​​around 1,000 square meters.

The museum is not only a place for the exhibition of art, but also an archive with letters, photographs, audio and video recordings as well as a specialist library. In addition, visitors to the museum's garden can admire a sculpture entitled "De Kwartel" (1976), which was created by Delvaux's friend George Grard.

At the museum's location, there are also walks to locations that have shaped Delvaux's life, as well as thematic routes for cyclists. The entire experience combines art, nature and the history of one of the largest Belgian painters of the 20th century, as described in wikipedia-entry on the museum.