Broodhaers, Marcel

(1924-1976)

   Marcel Broodhaers was born in Saint-Gilles on 28 January 1924. A graphic artist, poet, and filmmaker, Broodhaers produced a body of work reminiscent of dadaism, surrealism, pop art, and conceptual and performance art. He came to the visual arts via poetry and journalism and his oeuvre mixes text and image. His sculptural montages are often meant to convey criticism—of the Belgian art scene—and satire—of American pop art, among others. Broodhaers's Moules rouges casserole (Mussels in a red saucepan [1965]) employs a common household item and a staple Belgian food to convey contrasting images to those of international capitalism. Broodhaers settled in Cologne in 1969, where he made experimental short films. He died on 28 January 1976.

   See also Painting.