Until April 24, le Botanique will be honoring one of Belgium’s master 20th century photographers, Norbert Ghisoland.
Born in 1878, this miner’s son’s subject over 40 years were the residents of Borinage. Through these carefully composed pictures, this “involuntary anthropologist” offered his contemporaries the opportunity to escape from their otherwise modest living conditions, if only for a picture.
Studios were then flourishing, even in the poorest regions like Frameries, where Ghisoland had settled, the majority of whose residents were miners and their families. They came to immortalize their most memorable moments: baptisms, communions, marriages, and of course other less auspicious occasions including athletic victories, well designed costumes, new suits…
Ghisoland didn’t consider himself an artist, or even a witness of his era, rather his sole ambition was to provide his clients with pictures as they fantasized about themselves. He left behind a powerful collection of images that are recognized internationally. His very prolific production (of the 90,000 original plates, only 45,000 remain), was discovered haphazardly in the family attic by his grandson in 1969.
Until April 24
Le Botanique, Centre culturel de la Communauté française Wallonie-Bruxelles
236, rue royale – 1210 Bruxelles
