Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium

Since May 21, 2025, the Spilliaert Room has immersed visitors in the poetic and mysterious world of the Belgian painter, illustrator, and draughtsman. This new space offers temporary presentations of works on paper and pays tribute to Spilliaert’s exceptional contribution, with his work engaging in dialogue with that of other artists in the collections.

Now it is time for Focus 2, dedicated to the research project Friable, which sparks a lively dialogue with works on paper. Around 1900, the use of pastels and other powdery drawing materials experienced a resurgence, including in Belgium. Henry De Groux, Berthe Art, Georges Lemmen, and Léon Spilliaert used them for quick sketches, intimate drawings, and large-scale works.

Because of their fragility, these pieces present a major challenge in terms of conservation and display.

Information on the artworks  Brochure  The research project Friable