New museum for famous Belgium surrealist

A new museum dedicated to the surrealist from French-speaking Belgium who became one of the most celebrated painters in the world will open in the heart of Brussels’ museum district on 2nd June.

Located in the newly renovated Hotel Altenloh at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, and entirely devoted to René George Magritte, the Musée Magritte Museum will hold the largest collection ever assembled of works by the artist, including his well-known paintings, photographs, drawings, gouaches, posters and correspondence, as well as films made by him and his friends, and a number of unique works on loan from major private collectors.

Covering every period of his life over 2,500 metres, it is set to become one of the most important cultural centres in the Belgian capital, and will also house a research centre containing archives linked to the artist’s life and work. It is expected to attract over 600,000 visitors a year.

Born in 1898 in French-speaking Belgium (Lessines, in the Province of Hainaut), René Magritte moved to Brussels to study painting at the Academy of Fine Arts. Influenced by the Dadaist movement, he rose to become renowned in the art world for his surrealist paintings, and along with friends such as Salvador Dali and Max Ernst ignited a global movement that impacted all media, including advertising, theatre and movies. He died in Brussels in August 1967.

For more information, visit musee-magritte-museum.be.