Project « Connoisseurship and commodification of Asian art in Europe, 1850-1950 »

The Belgian public’s encounter with Asian art at the beginning of the 20th century took place at world exhibitions, facilitated by pieces sent by foreign national committees. The political authorities aimed to enhance their country's international image at these exceptional events through their art selections.

The prominent presence of Asian works in the intimate settings of private homes, both aristocratic and bourgeois, also shaped a distinctive perception of Asia. During this period, the trade in Asian antiques expanded on a European scale, with numerous antique dealers in Brussels and Paris catering to clients across several European cities.

While the establishment of museum collections has attracted the attention of researchers, less focus has been placed on the evolution of European connoisseurship regarding Asian art. The objective is to ascertain whether the appreciation for China and Japan was part of a late Japonist trend and to define the roles of associations, exhibitions, individuals, collectors, and dealers in the development of knowledge about Asian art in Europe.