Now we’ve reached the end of the tour, you will meet an all-round artist who was fiercely critical of the art world and museums: the internationally renowned and infamous Brussels artist, Marcel Broodthaers. The Groeningemuseum owns almost every edition of his printed works, as well as a wealth of posters, catalogues and invitations... When it comes to an artist like Broodthaers, these things are all part of his ‘life and work’.
Broodthaers’ critical ideas can all be found in his works on paper: about the role of the artist, the bond and the relationship between art and money, about art and museums, for example... These issues formed the basis of his artworks and his performances.
In the seminal year of 1968, Marcel Broodthaers installed a fictitious museum in his own home, with empty packing crates and postcards of 19th-century paintings on the walls. In one of the departments that he added afterwards, the objects and images carried the message: ‘This is not an artwork.’
And with this critical wink, your audio tour of the Groeningemuseum comes to an end. We hope that you’ve enjoyed listening and, more importantly, looking at the works of art.
Did you enjoy your visit? If so, the museums of Bruges have a lot more to offer, such as the Gruuthusemuseum, the St. John’s Hospital and many other sites.
We hope to see you again soon!