Musee Meunier (Meunier Museum), Brussels

The former residence and studio of Brussels-born artist Constantin Meunier, who lived here from 1899 until his passing six years later, now houses the Meunier Museum, which is open to the public for free. While Meunier initially pursued a career as a painter, he is most renowned for his work as a sculptor. The museum showcases an extensive collection of his somber and contemplative bronze sculptures.

Upon entering, visitors encounter a front room displaying a dozen of Meunier's paintings and statues; however, the collection truly comes to life as you proceed to the corridor behind it. Here, you will find a handful of watercolors, a couple of bronze pieces, and several intriguing sketches of London from one of the artist's numerous visits to England.

The most substantial and significant sculptures and paintings are located in the old studio at the rear. Among these works are life-size bronzes depicting muscular men with resolute expressions, exuding a heroic presence. Examples include 'Le Faucheur' (The Reaper), 'Un Semeur' (A Sower), and 'Le Marteleur' (The Metalworker). The studio also houses paintings depicting gritty industrial scenes, such as 'Black Country Borinage', portraying a coalfield, and 'The Port', a gloomy dockside scene, considered one of Meunier's most powerful creations.

Meunier embarked on an unconventional artistic endeavor with his 'Triptych of the Mine: Descent, Calvary, and Resurrection,' where he sought to draw parallels between the harsh existence of Belgian miners and the suffering of Christ. His art was driven by his deep concern for the deplorable living conditions of Belgium's working class, especially the arduous lives of coal miners in the Borinage region. This anger fueled his artistic expression, which championed the dignity of laborers and served as a model for Social Realist artists in his and subsequent generations. According to historian Eric Hobsbawm in "Age of Empire", Meunier is credited with creating the international archetype of the sculpted proletarian.