A new take on Christian Dotremont, a leading 20th century Belgian artist, and his links with surrealism. This exhibition is a testament to the richness of Dotremont’s archival collection, donated to the King Baudouin Foundation by his brother, Guy Dotremont.

Christian Dotremont’s archival fund represents an important source for the study not only of Dotremont’s oeuvre, but also of an artistic community to which the artist belonged. Guy Dotremont, Christian’s brother, donated the collection to the King Baudouin Foundation in 2011.

Through the exhibition at the BELvue Museum, the King Baudouin Foundation’s Heritage Fund aims to promote the heritage of this distinguished Belgian artist and to share the richness of his archival collection.

The exhibition "Dotremont and the Surrealists. A young man in wartime (1940-1948)" takes a new look at Dotremont at the start of his career, on the eve of the Second World War, and at his links with surrealism.

Before founding the Cobra movement and inventing his famous ‘logograms’ (or word pictures), Dotremont began his creative career alongside the surrealists, on the eve of World War II. Within the context of the Occupation, the surrealists were forced to consider some existential issues: how to keep on creating and what sense to give to their work?

The exhibition retraces this turbulent but crucial period in Dotremont’s career and the history of surrealism in Brussels through poetic and pictorial works, letters, reviews and photographs, most of which are from the artist’s own collection.

Museum institutions as well as private collectors have lent exceptional works, including a film never before projected, with Magritte and Nougé taking the main roles, and a work that Dotremont bought from Magritte.

The King Baudouin Foundation has also produced a publication to accompany the exhibition.

Practical information

"Dotremont and the Surrrealists. A young man in waretime (1940-1948)"
From 26/11/2019 to 09/02/2020
BELvue Museum, Place des Palais 7, 1000 Brussels

Free entrance
Free audio-guide (FR-NL-ENG) to download on visitor’s own smartphone (app.belvue.be)
Guided visits available
Evening preview 28/11 with guided visits (FR-NL-ENG) as part of Brussels Museum Night. Reservation here.

The publication (in French/Dutch) is on sale (€5) at the Museum shop.