KBR has just expanded its collection with a unique acquisition: a rare sketchbook by the Belgian symbolist Fernand Khnopff (1858–1921). This precious document, containing more than 45 drawings, was created during the time when Khnopff was a student and regularly stayed in Paris. It offers a fascinating insight into the artistic beginnings of one of Belgium’s most intriguing artists.

An icon of symbolism

No artist embodies Belgian symbolism better than Fernand Khnopff (1858–1921). His enigmatic paintings, inspired by literature and esoteric themes, exude a dreamlike atmosphere. Although his work is difficult to interpret today, Khnopff enjoyed international recognition during his lifetime. He exhibited in Paris, London, and Vienna, and collaborated with Gustav Klimt on the interior decoration of the legendary Stoclet Palace in Brussels.

Another gem added to KBR’s collection

This sketchbook joins the extensive Khnopff collection at the KBR Prints Department, which already includes drawings, prints, photographs, and letters. This addition offers new insights into the artist’s early career and illustrates his immense talent for drawing from a very young age. Some of the pages have not yet revealed all their secrets, leaving plenty of room for future research.

Khnopff‘s studies in Brussels

Long before developing his distinctive style, Khnopff studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Brussels from 1876 to 1879. There, he learned to draw and paint from classical and live models. He also took courses in historical composition, aesthetics, and archaeology. Among his classmates was a certain James Ensor, an academic drawing by whom KBR acquired last year.

Paris as a second school

During his student years, Khnopff regularly stayed in Paris, where he broadened his artistic education by visiting museums and exhibitions. The recently acquired sketchbook dates from late 1878 and early 1879, a period when Khnopff was attending the Académie Julian in Paris. It contains studies of human figures and poses, as well as mythological compositions, Orientalist scenes, and depictions of animals and architecture.

This sketchbook reflects the influence of French masters such as Eugène Delacroix and Antoine-Louis Barye, as well as that of Peter Paul Rubens, whose works Khnopff copied at the Louvre. Annotations refer to works that inspired him, such as Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa or Wilhelm von Kaulbach’s Lady Macbeth.

KBR, guardian of time

With this unique acquisition, KBR reaffirms its role as the guardian of Belgium’s cultural heritage for future generations. The sketchbook will soon be made available online, making its contents accessible to researchers and the general public.