The exhibition Paul Delvaux. Starting Points presents a new approach to this famous Belgian surrealist by showing the origins of his work and the artists who influenced him. The visual world of Paul Delvaux, like all artists, was actually formed due to a variety of influences throughout his career. Being close to the Masters of the Academy and by developing various aesthetic affinities, Paul Delvaux took inspiration from these contacts to develop his own original style.

In the beginning, Delvaux practiced realism, not dissimilar to impressionism and post-impressionism. One is able to detect the influence of Belgian landscape artists such as Hippolyte Boulenger, Alfred Bastien and Jean Degreef. At the same time he painted religious themes reminiscent of the symbolism of Puvis de Chavannes. Briefly influenced by Renoir and Modigliani, his painting evolved towards an expressionism close to that of Ensor, Permeke and De Smet. It is during this period that the human figure took on a major significance, from this point on being omnipresent in his work. Finally, the discovery of de Chirico and Magritte became a revelation and from 1934 up until the remainder of his surrealist career, were greatly influencial in his work. The artist found celebrity with the reference to the classicism of Ingres still present in his unique work.

This exhibition of over a hundred pieces, weaves eloquent dialogues between Paul Delvaux and his peers, shedding light on the genesis of work from this beacon of Belgian art.

For Summer 2010, the Museum of Ixelles will be delving deep into its collections in order to present a broad selection of photographic works from 1970 to the present.

For the first time, the Museum of Ixelles is exhibiting its entire collection of photographs. Come and discover the prints of photographers such as Lucien Clergue, Gilbert De Keyser, Gilbert Fastenaekens, Robert Morian, Marie-Françoise Plissrt and Marc Trivier presented alongside the work of Dirk Braeckman, Michel François, Wim Delvoye, Marie-Jo Lafontaine… so many names, whose prints will adorn our walls.

This exhibition will coincide with the Summer of Photography, a Brussels festival celebrating photography.

As part of this event, the young photographer Laurent Friob is also exhibiting two series at the Museum of Ixelles: "Etoiles sans lendemain" (2008) et "La ligne courbe du point: inertie temporelle" (2005).

Rich with some 10,000 works from the 19th and 20th century, the Museum of Ixelles saw its collections increase as the years passed. Recent contemporary work, as well as older, exceptional acquisitions, grace this collection. This summer presentation emphasizes this diversity, showing not only James Ensor, Rik Wouters and Lismonde but also Dirk Draeckman and Stephan Balleux.

For this occasion, the Museum of Ixelles will publish a small magazine presenting the exhibited works.