Description
In 1905, Belgian painter Emile Vauthier (1864-1946) published an opinion piece on 'American taste in art’. In the article, Vauthier discussed the main obstacles and opportunities for a flourishing market of Belgian art in the US, which, unlike its French or Dutch counterparts, was poorly known. Vauthier spoke with expertise, as he had overseen the instalment of Belgian fine arts at the recently concluded Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis. Belgian arts had occupied a central position within the national exhibit, with over two hundred Belgian paintings and fifty sculptures shipped across the Atlantic to captivate the American public. Belgium’s national pavilion furthermore served as a showcase for the country’s artistic capabilities, featuring a significant display dedicated to decorative arts. Most remarkably, the building was externally adorned with 27 paintings by contemporary Belgian painters, a highly unorthodox choice. Through an extensive analysis of archival material and other primary sources relating to the Belgian fine arts exhibit in St. Louis, this contribution will highlight the key position occupied by Emile Vauthier as a liaison officer between the Belgian and American artistic scene in 1904. Additionally, it will examine how Belgium’s heightened attention to artistic display did not only serve to make its art more known on the American market, but also served to build an international image of Belgium as an industrious and civilised nation at a time when such claims were increasingly challenged.| Period | 20 Jun 2024 |
|---|---|
| Event title | Dutch Bargains and Belgian Sales: Making a Market for Art from the Low Countries in the Americas, 1840-1920: A two-day online symposium |
| Event type | Conference |
| Degree of Recognition | International |
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