Witty and Macabre

Reveals the ongoing influence and relevance of Belgian symbolism, Flemish expressionism, and surrealism in the work of 25 contemporary artists. Witty and Macabre explores the ongoing influence of Symbolism, Flemish Expressionism, and Surrealism on contemporary art. Robert Zeller, author of New Surrealism, begins by providing a brief historical overview of the Symbolists, the Flemish Expressionists, and the Belgian variant of Surrealism, featuring work by James Ensor, Rene Magritte, Paul Delvaux, and many others. Then the book offers an international array of 25 artists currently working in Belgium, including Luc Tuymans, Sanam Khatibi, Michaël Borremans, Aline Bouvy, Thomas Lerooy, and others. . Through 195 works of art, understand the influence and impact of Belgian Symbolism, Flemish Expressionism, and Surrealism on contemporary art. . The 25 artists cover an intriguing range, from those starting their careers to those of international standing. . Covers often-overlooked figures in Belgian art, such as Jane Gaverol, a groundbreaking Belgian Surrealist; Gustave de Smet, one of the original Flemish Expressionists; and Paul Nouge, an important Surrealist theorist and, in a sense, the Belgian equivalent to Andre Breton, the leader of the Parisian Surrealist movement. AUTHOR: Robert Zeller is a visual artist, writer, and curator. He has written about art for the Brooklyn Rail, Sothebys, National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia, and many other publications, online and in print. His previous books include New Surrealism: The Uncanny in Contemporary Painting. www.robertzeller.com SELLING POINTS: . CURATION AND CONTEXT: Accessible together only here, these 194 one-of-a-kind artworks are expertly presented to allow readers new insights. . 2 TRENDING TOPICS: Symbolism is popular in contemporary art with demand for current, high-quality information. Surrealism's popularity continues strong partly due to its relevance in using absurdity to critique social and political issues. . HIGHLIGHTS THE WORLDWIDE INFLUENCE of the Belgian art scene, which wields considerable clout among collectors. . ART EXHIBITION TIE-IN: The book launch includes a coordinating exhibition at renowned Uffner & Liu (New York, March/April 2027). 200 colour images