Salon Fever
April 24 to July 5, 2025
Every Thursday, Friday, Saturday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Exceptionally open on Sunday, April 27, Heritage Day
Also open on 1, 2, 3 May
Closed on 29, 30, 31 May
Vandenhove, Rozier 1, 9000 Ghent
In the nineteenth century, public art exhibitions were the ultimate platform for artists to showcase their work, attract buyers, and build their reputations. While the Paris Salon and the London Summer Exhibition are the most famous examples, Belgium also had a thriving exhibition culture. From 1814 to 1914, the national art salons were held alternately in Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent. These vibrant events brought together artists, critics, patrons, art dealers and policymakers, playing a pivotal role in the country’s cultural and artistic life.
The exhibition Salon Fever: Triennial Art Exhibitions in Brussels, Antwerp, and Ghent (1814-1914) brings this dynamic art scene back to life. Through rare archival materials and iconic works by artists such as Eugène Verboeckhoven, Paul De Vigne, and Jan van Beers, we reveal the impact of the salons on both artists and society. The exhibition also highlights how the Salons facilitated the dissemination and commercialisation of art through a vast array of reproductions, including etchings, photographs, and plaster casts.
This exhibition is linked to the PhD research of Malika M’rani Alaoui at Ghent University and KU Leuven, supervised by Professors Marjan Sterckx and Tom Verschaffel, which will be defended in 2025.
With the support of the Central Library, Ghent University and the Valorization Fund Faculty of Arts and Philosophy UGent.
In cooperation with STAM Ghent and Letterenhuis Antwerpen.