Conceptual, Surrealist, Pictorial
Photo-Based Art in Belgium (1960s - early 1990s)
Liesbeth Decan (Author),
Series: Lieven Gevaert Series 22
Category: Art, Media and Visual Culture, Photography
Language: English
ISBN: 9789462700772
Publication date: October 14, 2016
€39.50 (including 6% VAT)
Buy NowNumber of pages: 280
Size: 240 x 160 x mm
Stock item: 112016
Standard delivery time for print books:
For Belgium: 5 to 8 working days
For EU: 2 to 3 weeks
For other countries: 4 to 5 weeks
The role of photography in Belgian visual art.
‘Conceptual, Surrealist, Pictorial’ is the first in-depth study of the use of photography by Belgian artists from the 1960s until the early 1990s. During these three decades, photography generally underwent a major evolution with regard to its status as a gallery-focused fine art practice. Liesbeth Decan explores ten representative case studies, which are contextualized within and compared with contemporary international artistic trends. Successively, she addresses the pioneering use of photography within Conceptual art (represented by Marcel Broodthaers, Jacques Charlier, and Jef Geys), the heyday of Photoconceptualism in Belgium (represented by Jacques Lennep, Jacques Lizène, Philippe Van Snick, and Danny Matthys), and the transition from a conceptual use of photography towards a more pictorial, tableau-like approach of the medium (represented by Jan Vercruysse, Ria Pacquée, and Dirk Braeckman). Ultimately, the selected case studies reveal that photo-based art in Belgium appears to be characterized by a unique uniting of elements particularly from Conceptual art, Surrealism, and the pictorial tradition.
This publication is GPRC-labeled (Guaranteed Peer-Reviewed Content).
Acknowledgements Introduction I. The 1960s: A Pioneering Photoconceptualism I.1 Introduction I.2 Marcel Broodthaers: From Surrealism to Conceptual Art I.3 Jacques Charlier: Photography in Socially Embedded Art I.4 Jef Geys: Archival, Vernacular and Multi-Reproduced Images I.5 Conclusion: A Photoconceptualism with Origins in the Everyday II. The 1970s: Photoconceptualism’s Heyday II.1 Introduction II.2 Jacques Lennep: The Artist-Curator II.3 Jacques Lizène: Mediocrity as a Basic Concept II.4 Philippe Van Snick: Dynamic Photo Series II.5 Danny Matthys: Explorations of Time and Place II.6 Conclusion: A Hybrid Photoconceptualism with Surrealist and Pictorial Roots III. The 1980s: Towards the Photographic Tableau III.1 Introduction III.2 Jan Vercruysse: Portraits of the Artist III.3 The Characters of Ria Pacquée III.4 Dirk Braeckman: Multi-Mediating Pictures III.5 Conclusion: Photographic Tableaux with a Surrealist Undertone Conclusion Color section Appendices Notes Bibliography
Cet ouvrage nous brosse un véritable portrait du panorama artistique en Belgique durant la seconde moitié du XXe siècle, à travers de nombreuses informations sur le contexte belge mais également en rapport avec le contexte international. Bien documenté et enrichi de références théoriques et d’exemples artistiques nationaux et internationaux, ce livre ne traite pas uniquement de l’histoire de l’art contemporain en Belgique, mais il consiste surtout en une réelle réflexion – avec un ton quelque peu critique – sur l’écriture même de cette histoire de l’art, en insistant sur l’apparition tardive de l’art contemporain belge.Virginia de la Cruz Lichet, Critique d’art, http://journals.openedition.org/critiquedart/25717
Frequently Asked Questions
What is "Conceptual, Surrealist, Pictorial" about?
The role of photography in Belgian visual art.
‘Conceptual, Surrealist, Pictorial’ is the first in-depth study of the use of photography by Belgian artists from the 1960s until the early 1990s. During these three decades, photography generally underwent a major evolution with regard to its status as a gallery-focused fine art practice. Liesbeth Decan explores ten representative case studies, which are contextualized within and compared with contemporary international artistic trends. Successively, she addresses the pioneering use of photography within Conceptual art (represented by Marcel Broodthaers, Jacques Charlier, and Jef Geys), the heyday of Photoconceptualism in Belgium (represented by Jacques Lennep, Jacques Lizène, Philippe Van Snick, and Danny Matthys), and the transition from a conceptual use of photography towards a more pictorial, tableau-like approach of the medium (represented by Jan Vercruysse, Ria Pacquée, and Dirk Braeckman). Ultimately, the selected case studies reveal that photo-based art in Belgium appears to be characterized by a unique uniting of elements particularly from Conceptual art, Surrealism, and the pictorial tradition.
This publication is GPRC-labeled (Guaranteed Peer-Reviewed Content).
Who wrote "Conceptual, Surrealist, Pictorial"?
"Conceptual, Surrealist, Pictorial" was written by Liesbeth Decan.
Liesbeth Decan teaches theory and history of photography at LUCA School of Arts Brussels, where she is also the coordinator of the research group Photography Expanded.
Is "Conceptual, Surrealist, Pictorial" part of a series?
Yes, "Conceptual, Surrealist, Pictorial" is part of the "Lieven Gevaert Series" series. It's book 22 in the series.
The series covers four types of publications:
- outstanding monographic studies
- multi-authored volumes on a specific topic
- book length projects with artists
- translations and/or reprints of classic texts.
All books are published in English and are written for an international audience of scholars.
Format
All books in the series are published in 17*23 cm paperback with French flaps, printed in black and white on white maco paper and with a maximum page extent of 300 pages (120.000 words) including images (unless agreed otherwise).
Authors interested in publishing their book in Open Access can check out the funding options here. Open access books are published under a creative commons license.
Series editors
Hilde Van Gelder, KU Leuven
Alexander Streitberger, UCLouvain
Proposals
Proposals and enquiries can be sent to the series editors.
Please make use of the submission form to present the full manuscript to our board.
Authors interested in Open Access can consult the available funding options.
Links & Resources
What is the Table of Contents for "Conceptual, Surrealist, Pictorial"?
Acknowledgements Introduction I. The 1960s: A Pioneering Photoconceptualism I.1 Introduction I.2 Marcel Broodthaers: From Surrealism to Conceptual Art I.3 Jacques Charlier: Photography in Socially Embedded Art I.4 Jef Geys: Archival, Vernacular and Multi-Reproduced Images I.5 Conclusion: A Photoconceptualism with Origins in the Everyday II. The 1970s: Photoconceptualism's Heyday II.1 Introduction II.2 Jacques Lennep: The Artist-Curator II.3 Jacques Lizène: Mediocrity as a Basic Concept II.4 Philippe Van Snick: Dynamic Photo Series II.5 Danny Matthys: Explorations of Time and Place II.6 Conclusion: A Hybrid Photoconceptualism with Surrealist and Pictorial Roots III. The 1980s: Towards the Photographic Tableau III.1 Introduction III.2 Jan Vercruysse: Portraits of the Artist III.3 The Characters of Ria Pacquée III.4 Dirk Braeckman: Multi-Mediating Pictures III.5 Conclusion: Photographic Tableaux with a Surrealist Undertone Conclusion Color section Appendices Notes Bibliography
Related titles
![Book cover for the book Image [&] Narrative, Volume 26 Issue 1 (2026)](https://lup.be/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/jpg_rgb_original-1-scaled-wpv_240x0.jpg)
Image [&] Narrative, Volume 26 Issue 1 (2026)
Maaheen Ahmed (Editor), Anneleen Masschelein (Editor), Anne Reverseau (Editor), Hilde Van Gelder (Editor),
December 2026
Collective Trauma and Future Fantasies
Raika Khorshidian (Editor), Birgit Mersmann (Editor), Cathrine Bublatzky (Editor), Julia Stenzel (Editor),
November 2026
Feminists Resisting Gendered Violence
Hemangini Gupta (Editor), Fiona Mackay (Editor), Jan Breckenridge (Editor), Louise Chappell (Editor), Rachna Mehra (Editor), Rukmini Sen (Editor), Mailin Suchting (Editor),
October 2026
A City in Practice
Aude Tournaye (Editor), Filip De Boeck (Editor), Picha Collective (Editor),
September 2026
Ecologies of Photography in the American West
Monica Bravo (Editor), Carolin Görgen (Editor),
September 2026
Cinema in Post-War Belgium
Gertjan Willems (Editor), Bjorn Gabriels (Editor), Bénédicte Rochet (Editor),
May 2026
Performing Magnetism
Eleonora Paklons (Editor), Kristof Smeyers (Editor), Kurt Vanhoutte (Editor), Hannah Welslau (Editor),
May 2026
Jean Katambayi Mukendi
Johannes Muselaers (Editor), Stéphane Symons (Editor), Anne-Claire Schmitz (Editor), Emma Enderby (Editor),
April 2026
Nomadic Camera
Burcu Dogramaci (Editor), Winfried Gerling (Editor), Jens Jäger (Editor), Birgit Mersmann (Editor),
March 2026
Comics and the Global South
Andrea Aramburú (Editor), Dibyadyuti Roy (Editor), Joe Sutliff Sanders (Editor),
February 2026
Entangled Art Histories
Valérie Mavridorakis (Editor), Alexander Streitberger (Editor), Hilde Van Gelder (Editor), Erik Verhagen (Editor),
October 2025
The Visionary Art of Franco-Belgian Comics, 1930s to 1960s
Hugo Frey (Editor), Maaheen Ahmed (Editor),
September 2025
Violence and Trauma in Contemporary Performance
Sofie de Smet (Editor), Marieke Breyne (Editor), Pedzisai Maedza (Editor), Christel Stalpaert (Editor),
May 2025