Permanent exhibition MBA

 

The museum houses almost 5,000 works, offering a dialogue between ancient and contemporary art through a thematic approach. The collections include paintings, sculptures, watercolours, prints, photographs, installations, videos and ceramics. These works testify to the richness of the local artistic heritage, while also reflecting the major trends in the history of universal art: neo-classicism, romanticism, orientalism, realism, impressionism, surrealism and abstraction.

The permanent collections are structured around a variety of themes that reflect the evolution of artistic trends and social dynamics. These themes include: the origins of the collection, neo-classicism and orientalism, landscape, social realism, idle life, folklore, surrealism, abstraction, contemporary art and the portrait gallery.

Each space highlights works by emblematic artists, while offering keys to understanding their links with Charleroi and their influence beyond its borders. This thematic tour invites visitors to explore the reciprocal influences between artists and their environment, while tracing the major stages in the history of art and society.

By bringing together major works and lesser-known creations that are just as remarkable in terms of technique or style, the museum establishes links between local, regional and international history.

It includes the great names of major classical and contemporary artists such as François-Joseph Navez, Jean-François Portaels, Constantin Meunier, Pierre Paulus, Anto Carte, Anna Boch, Maximilien Luce, Hippolyte Boulenger, Jef Lambeaux and James Ensor, Félicien Rops, Gustave Courbet, Paul Delvaux, René Magritte, Jean Ransy, Gustave Camus, Alphonse Darville, Mig Quinet, Berthe Dubail, Gilberte Dumont, Jo Delahaut, Daniel Fauville, Thierry Tillier, Johan Muyle, Michael Matthys, Charley Case,…