Ferdinand Schirren

In keeping with the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium's desire to spotlight lesser-known artists, they are pleased to present an exhibition devoted to Ferdinand Schirren (1872-1944). Schirren, whose work is well represented in the Royal Museums' holdings, is considered to be the first Belgian Fauve.

His major work, completed early in his career, is a head of Helena P. Blavatsky, a crucial figure in the Theosophical movement. This portrait, acquired in 2007, is unique in Schirren's multi-faceted sculptural output, and visitors will be able to discover it during the show. The Blavatsky bust is in a monumental vein, and could be understood as an interpretation that incorporates aspects of the fin-de-siècle Theosophical movement.

However, Schirren's abrupt shift to painting and drawing in 1904 introduces us to an early 20th century artist who gave pride of place to colour, which he used to render forms. By 1906, working in the quiet of the Brabant countryside, he succeeded in creating work reminiscent of the 1905 watercolours by Matisse, Manguin and Camoin, painted at Collioure.


Date: until March 4.
Location: Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
Museum of Ancient Art. Regentschapsstraat. Rue de la Régence, 3, b-1000. Brussels. Belgium.
Opening hours: from Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm.