On Tuesday, February 25, 2025, the Alfred MFA cohort traveled to Brussels, Belgium by train to explore the city’s rich cultural history in the arts. After settling into our lodging, we head straight to the Oldmasters Museum. Here we were treated to works by Belgian artists Peter Paul Rubens, Pieter Bruegel the Elder, and others of the region, like Dutch painter Hieronymus Bosch.

After taking in the wonders of the Belgian and Dutch masters, we strolled the streets to check out the local gallery scene. We checked out shows of contemporary artists at Galerie Templon, Rodolphe Jannsen, and La Patinoire Royale. 

The next day, Wednesday, February 26, 2025, we visited the René Magritte Museum and were greeted for a private tour. The experience with our guide provided a personal touch, and insight into the man and work – giving us students a richer experience. We finished our day at the Bozar Centre for Fine Arts, another Brussels museum. At the Bozar, we were treated to an incredible group show titled When We See Us – “A kaleidoscopic exhibition that explores a century of Pan-African figurative painting. Themes such as joy, exuberance, daily life, sensuality and spirituality come to the fore in over 140 paintings by a hundred artists.”

📸 Katrin Laade, Max Heaton