Famous Belgian Artists & Painters

Peter Paul Rubens is considered the most influential artist of the Flemish Baroque tradition. He lived during the Dutch Golden Age. His style of art emphasized movement, color, and sensuality. He painted altarpieces, portraits, landscapes, and history paintings and also drew cartoons for the Flemish tapestry workshops. He was a classically educated humanist scholar as well.

With a background as colorful as her art, Princess Delphine of Belgium was known as Jonkvrouw Delphine Boël before she won paternity suit against King Albert II of Belgium and became recognized as his daughter, winning princely title for herself and her children. An established artist in her own right, she continues to create art, promoting its use in healthcare.  

Anthony van Dyck was a Flemish Baroque artist who started painting at an early age before going on to become the leading court painter in England. Although he is best remembered for painting the aristocracy, van Dyck also painted biblical and mythological subjects. In 1632, Anthony van Dyck received a knighthood from Charles I.

Painter and printmaker James Ensor spent most of his life in the North Sea fishing port of Ostend, away from hustle-bustle of big cities. Yet, he left a significant influence on every aspect of the modernist movement; from symbolism and expressionism to dada and surrealism; also a signature style that involved radical distortion of form, muddled surface and riotous color.  

Peyo was a Belgian artist and comic book writer best remembered for creating popular comics series like Johan and Peewit and The Smurfs. He is also credited with creating several other comics series like Jacky and Célestin and Steven Strong. Peyo also founded his own publishing house called Cartoon Creation.

Roger van der Weyden was an Early Netherlandish painter whose paintings were exported to Spain and Italy, thanks to his popularity and success. Not surprisingly, Van der Weyden received commissions from important people and foreign princes. Today, Roger van der Weyden is considered one of the three great Early Netherlandish painters and the 15th century’s most influential Northern painter.

Flemish painter Jan Brueghel the Elder is perhaps best remembered for his floral still lifes and landscapes. The second son of legendary Flemish artist Pieter Bruegel the Elder, he was also nicknamed "Velvet" Brueghel and "Flower" Brueghel and was a court painter of Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II.

Flemish painter Pieter Brueghel the Younger was the eldest son of legendary Flemish painter Pieter Brueghel the Elder. Mostly known for re-creating his father’s works, he also created numerous original paintings, mostly depicting rural life. His works now adorn museums in cities such as Paris and Amsterdam.

Belgian painter and graphic artist Félicien Rops is best remembered for his association with symbolism and Fin-de Siecle, and for his prints. Part of the Les Vingt group of artists, he created masterpieces such as Absinthe Drinker and Lady with the Puppet. He also experimented with erotic themes.

Joachim Patinir was a Flemish Renaissance painter best remembered for painting history and landscape subjects. He is credited with inventing world landscape, a style of panoramic Renaissance landscapes, which is considered Patinir's most significant contribution to Western art. Joachim Patinir also pioneered landscape as an independent genre.

Belgian painter Quentin Massys is remembered as one of the pioneers of the Antwerp school. While he was initially trained as a blacksmith, he began studying painting after falling for an artist’s daughter. His best-known works include The Money Changer and His Wife and The Old Man and the Courtesan.

David Teniers the Younger was a Flemish Baroque painter, draughtsman, printmaker, staffage painter, miniaturist painter, copyist, and art curator. A prolific and versatile artist, Teniers was considered an innovator in a variety of genres such as genre painting, history painting, portrait, landscape painting, and still life. Today, he is remembered as the most important Flemish genre painter of his generation.

Anna Boch was a Belgian painter best remembered for her Impressionist style. Apart from painting, Boch also held one of the most prominent collections of Impressionist paintings. Anna Boch is also remembered for supporting and promoting young artists like Vincent van Gogh. 

Pieter Claesz was a Dutch painter of still lifes who flourished during the Dutch Golden Age. He is best remembered for his work alongside other important Dutch Golden Age artist Willem Claesz Heda. Pieter Claesz and Heda worked in Haarlem and are credited with founding a well-known tradition of still life painting in the city. 

One of the most popular 15th-century Flemish painters, Hugo van der Goes belonged to the Early Netherlandish and Northern Renaissance schools. Remembered for his iconic pieces such as Portinari Triptych, Fall and Redemption of Man, and Monforte Altarpiece, he once tried killing himself due to depression.

Flemish painter Jacob Jordaens was a major part of the Flemish Baroque movement. He is best remembered for his works such as Allegory of Fertility and known for his signature use of warm colors and scenes inspired by proverbs, mythology, allegories. He also designed many tapestries.

Paul Delvaux was a Belgian painter best remembered for his dream-like scenes of classical architecture, women, train stations, trains, and skeletons. Although he is considered a surrealist, Delvaux identified with the Surrealist movement only briefly. However, he did combine the bizarre juxtapositions of surrealism with the classical beauty of academic painting.

Clara Peeters was a Flemish painter from Antwerp known for her still-life works. Active in both the Spanish Netherlands and the Dutch Republic, she is the most famous female Flemish artist of her era. She was one of the few women artists working professionally in 17th-century Europe. She is believed to have been a wealthy and successful artist.  

André Franquin was a Belgian comic book artist best remembered for creating popular characters like Marsupilami and Gaston. An influential comic book artist, Franquin's works have had huge impact on the works of Francisco Ibáñez and Ramón María Casanyes. André Franquin was a recipient of many prestigious awards such as Adamson Award and Grand Prix for the Graphic Arts. 

Belgian-born Francis Alÿs first moved to Mexico as part of a team that helped the country rebuild itself after its destruction in the 1985 earthquakes. He later settled there and created artwork using a variety of media, from painting to video. The Collector is one of his best-known works.

South Netherlandish painter Petrus Christus is remembered as a pioneer of the geometric or linear perspective in the Netherlands. His best-known works include Portrait of a Young Girl and Virgin with Saints Jerome and Francis. However, he remained anonymous for centuries and was not recognized until modern historians explored his works.

Known for his pioneering non-narrative and figurative style of painting, Belgian painter Luc Tuymans often depicted war and the Holocaust in his works such as Gaskamer (Gas Chamber). He has won numerous honors, such as the Order of Leopold. He is also known for his signature style of creating series of paintings

Belgian-born French painter and botanist Pierre-Joseph Redouté, also known as the Raphael of flowers, was a famous court painter and one of the greatest botanical illustrators of his time. Known for his iconic pieces such as Les Liliacées, he was a specialist of painting roses, too.

Fernand Khnopff was a Belgian painter whose works gained him recognition and helped achieve a cult status during his lifetime. He was honored with the prestigious Order of Leopold for his immense contribution to Symbolism.

Marcel Broodthaers was primarily a poet till 40, after which he focused on visual arts. One of his exhibitions showcased copies of his book Pense-Bête, encased in plaster. Over the years, he experimented with painting, printmaking, and film, too. He also headed the Musée d’Art Moderne, Département des Aigles.

Flemish painter Frans Snyders is best remembered for his paintings of animals and hunting scenes. He also created still-lifes of flowers and fruits. He is also considered a pioneer in depicting animals as protagonists in everyday situations. His works also featured many collaborations with Antwerp painters.

Belgian comic artist Benoit Sokal is perhaps best remembered for developing the comic series Inspector Canardo and the adventure game franchise Syberia. With the first-person fantasy game Amerzone, he had become one of the first visual designers to supervise the development of a video game.

Morris was a Belgian cartoonist and illustrator who created a popular comic series titled Lucky Luke, which remained a bestselling series for over five decades. The comic series was also translated into 23 languages. Morris is often ranked amongst the Greatest Belgians of all time. 

Théo Van Rysselberghe was a Belgian painter who played an important role in the European art scene of the late 19th century and early 20th century. Widely regarded as one of the finest neo-impressionist painters of all time, Théo Van Rysselberghe was made Commander of the Order of Leopold in 1919.

Adriaen Brouwer was a Flemish painter who was one of the most important exponents and innovators of genre painting. He also contributed to the progression of the genre of tronies. An influential painter, Adriaen Brouwer's work had a significant impact on the subsequent generation of Dutch and Flemish genre painters like Mattheus van Helmont and David Teniers the Younger.

One of the founding members of the CoBrA art movement, Belgian abstract painter Pierre Alechinsky grew up with varied artistic interests, including folk art. Currently based in France, he works in a flexible painting style, embracing flaws and accidents in the final composition, incorporating the traditional processes of Japanese calligraphy into his paintings after a trip to that country.

Bernard van Orley was a Flemish artist best remembered for his versatility. He was also a designer of tapestries and stained glasses. An extremely productive painter, Bernard van Orley also served as the court artist under the House of Habsburg and its rulers.

Frans Floris was a Flemish painter, print artist, draughtsman, and tapestry designer. He is best remembered for his allegorical scenes, history paintings, and portraits. A well-known Romanist, Frans Floris played a significant role in bringing the nuances of the Italian High Renaissance artworks into the Northern painting tradition.   

Constantin Meunier was a Belgian sculptor and painter. He is best remembered for using common man as his subject; his depiction of industrial workers, miners, and dockers played an important role in the development of modern art. Meunier's work, some of which are displayed in Belgian museums, is a reflection of the social, industrial, and political developments of his time.

Guy Peellaert was a Belgian artist, comic artist, illustrator, painter, and photographer. He is best remembered for designing album covers for bands and artistes like The Rolling Stones and David Bowie. Guy Peellaert is also credited for designing posters for films like Short Cuts, Paris, Texas, and Taxi Driver.

Although hailed as Lord of the Logos, Europe’s leading heavy-metal logo artist Christophe Szpajdel, never studied art; instead he holds a degree in Forestry Engineering. Also a well-known illustrator and calligraphist, he started illustrating when in the first year of the university, categorizing his style as depressiv'moderne, citing Art Deco, Art Nouveau and modernism to have major influence on it.   

Constant Permeke was a Belgian sculptor and painter who is considered the most important figure of Flemish expressionism. He also served in the army during World War I where he was hurt in action during the defense of Antwerp. Constant Permeke's achievements were honored by the Belgian government by having his portrait imprinted on a Belgian franc bill in 1997. 

Abraham Janssens was a Flemish painter best remembered for his large mythological and religious works. Prior to the return of Peter Paul Rubens from Italy, Abraham Janssens was considered the most important history painter in Flanders.    

Jan Fyt was a Flemish Baroque painter, etcher, and draughtsman. One of the 17th century's leading animaliers, Fyt is remembered for his lush hunting pieces and refined depictions of animals. A versatile still-life specialist, Jan Fyt was also an accomplished etcher; he produced a series of etchings portraying mainly animals and dogs.

Jacques Daret was an Early Netherlandish painter who became an important and influential person in the Burgundian court. Some of his most important works such as the Adoration of the Magi, the Presentation in the Temple, and the Nativity, are preserved in museums across Europe.

Peter Scheemakers was a Flemish sculptor who lived and worked for most part of his life in London. Scheemakers' church and public sculptures in a classicist style had a significant impact on the progression of modern sculpture in England. Peter Scheemakers is best remembered for executing a memorial to William Shakespeare which is part of Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey.

Adam Frans van der Meulen was a Flemish draughtsman and painter best remembered for depicting scenes of military conquests and campaigns. His depiction of battle scenes had a significant impact on the progerssion of military painting genre in France. A versatile painter, Adam Frans van der Meulen also painted hunting scenes, portraits, and landscapes. He even designed cartoons for tapestries.

Christian Dotremont was a Belgian poet and painter best remembered for founding the Revolutionary Surrealist Group in 1946. He is also credited with co-founding an influential European avant-garde movement called COBRA. Christian Dotremont is also remembered for his painted poems which he called logograms. 

Belgian poet and graphic artist Sophie Podolski is best known for her only published book during her lifetime, Le pays où tout est permis. A patient of schizophrenia, she had been to psychiatric clinics and had issues with drugs. She eventually tried committing suicide and died 10 days later.

Gillis van Coninxloo was a Flemish painter who specialized in landscape painting. He played a prominent role in the progression of Northern landscape art during the late 16th and early 17th century. Gillis van Coninxloo is also credited with teaching many future painters like Willem van den Bundel, Pieter Brueghel the Younger, and Hercules Seghers.

Caspar de Crayer was a Flemish painter best remembered for his portraits and Counter-Reformation altarpieces. He also served as a court painter under the governors of the Southern Netherlands. Caspar de Crayer showcased his expertise in some of the most important cities of Flanders where he helped popularize the Rubens style. 

David Teniers the Elder was a Flemish painter best remembered for his paintings of peasants and landscapes. Interestingly, he also tried his hand at large religious, mythological, and historical compositions. David Teniers also achieved tremendous success as a picture dealer. Apart from his artworks, David Teniers the Elder is also known as the father of David Teniers the Younger.

While he was trained as a decorator, Bram Bogart later established himself as a talented Expressionist painter. Starting his career with cubism and figurative drawing, he later focused on impasto. His works are known for their 2-D and 3-D effects, and for their layered use of oil, varnish, chalk, and water.

Cornelis Floris de Vriendt was a Flemish sculptor, draughtsman, architect, designer of prints, and medallist. He ran an influential and large workshop in Antwerp and is credited with designing portions of the Antwerp City Hall. Cornelis Floris de Vriendt had a significant impact on the progression of architecture and sculpture in the 16th and 17th century Northern Europe.