Constantin Meunier : la genèse d'une image

Exhibition at the Musée Félicien Rops, Namur, 12 April - 7 September 2025

A key figure in Belgian realism, the painter-sculptor Constantin Meunier (1831-1905) left his mark on his era by giving a voice to the working world and highlighting the nobility of work. After training in sculpture, he took up painting and worked at the Atelier Saint-Luc in Brussels, where he met Félicien Rops. Their respective careers would constantly lead them back to each other.

Towards the end of the 1870s, Meunier turned to poignant social scenes, capturing working-class life and struggles with intensity thanks to his talent as a painter. From 1880 onwards, he broadened his horizons by becoming an illustrator. His drawings, translated into prints and reproduced using photomechanical processes, were used to illustrate major works of literature.

This exhibition catalogue explores a little-known facet of the Belgian artist's work: his involvement in printmaking. Through a selection of engravings, drawings, paintings and sculptures, it shows how Meunier influenced artists such as Auguste Danse, Karl Meunier and Maximilien Luce.