Armand Rassenfosse is one of the greatest Walloon artists of the last century. We are generally unaware of the fact that, in addition to his work as a painter and poster artist, he was also a first-rate illustrator. He enjoyed an international reputation and received prestigious commissions from abroad as well as in Belgium. His illustrations for the famous collection of Charles Baudelaire’s poems Les Feurs du Mal is considered as one of the heights of artistic achievement, not only among Rassenfosse’s own work, but also within the too little-known art of book illustration.

The exhibition Rassenfosse ou l’esthétique du livre has been jointly organised by the Armand Rassenfosse Fund, managed by the King Baudouin Foundation, and the Bibliotheca Wittockiana and is open from 30 September 2015 to 31 January 2016. It covers Rassenfosse’s major contribution to the world of publishing, notably his impressive work as a book and poetry collection illustrator, as well as his poster work etc.

The richly-documented book published by the King Baudouin Foundation to accompany the exhibition provides a vibrant homage to the artist.