A class photograph with a.o. Martha Van Coppenolle at the Technisch Instituur of Sint-Maria in Antwerp, ca. 1930. Collection City of Antwerp, Letterenhuis
Examples range from the overlooked productions of Maria Sèthe to the Belgian Art Nouveau to Hélène Denis-Bohy’s bold modern typography for her feminist pamphlets printed on the La Cambre printing press; from extraordinary Belle Époque ceramics by designers trained at Belgium’s first professional school for women to anonymous lacework in raffia made in Congolese missionary schools. The exhibition showcases the significant but under-valued creativity of women in diverse fields of crafts and design from an original, thematic approach. Through a focus on visibility, the show examines how women used design as a means of empowerment, signing their work, asserting their presence in exhibitions and making significant advancements in the field. Their work will be showcased as a testament to their...
Examples range from the overlooked productions of Maria Sèthe to the Belgian Art Nouveau to Hélène Denis-Bohy’s bold modern typography for her feminist pamphlets printed on the La Cambre printing press; from extraordinary Belle Époque ceramics by designers trained at Belgium’s first professional school for women to anonymous lacework in raffia made in Congolese missionary schools. The exhibition showcases the significant but under-valued creativity of women in diverse fields of crafts and design from an original, thematic approach. Through a focus on visibility, the show examines how women used design as a means of empowerment, signing their work, asserting their presence in exhibitions and making significant advancements in the field. Their work will be showcased as a testament to their resilience, innovation and creativity. Simultaneously, the exhibition addresses the challenges of invisibility faced by women designers. Their authorship was frequently obscured because of societal norms, social class, their behind-the-scenes work or within collaborative environments. This exploration will reveal instances where their contributions were overlooked, wrongly attributed or remained unrecognised, leading to a lack of knowledge of their work and its recognition. Moreover, this exhibition delves into the professionalisation of women designers, tracing their journey as they navigated educational institutions (as pupils and teachers), organisations and networks to establish themselves within professional circles. This journey highlights their determination and means to carve out a space for themselves in a predominantly male-dominated industry. Lastly, the realm of domesticity demonstrates how women, often from within and for the decoration of their homes, created their own visual and material culture and surroundings, which was in turn considered inferior or instrumentalised for moralistic purposes. They were driven by functional needs, tradition, so-called ‘virtue’ or a lack of suitable options in the commercial market. This exploration will underscore how women makers, whether as individuals or collectively, employed their ingenuity and resourcefulness to express their vision.Opening Hours
| Monday | 11:00 - 19:00 |
| Tuesday | 11:00 - 19:00 |
| Wednesday | 11:00 - 19:00 |
| Thursday | 11:00 - 19:00 |
| Friday | 11:00 - 19:00 |
| Saturday | 11:00 - 19:00 |
| Sunday | 11:00 - 19:00 |