BRAFA ART Talks
BRAFA SHARES ITS PASSION FOR ART
BRAFA will be offering a series of daily lectures, the BRAFA Art Talks, on the stand of the King Baudouin Foundation. Leading figures from the art world, exhibition and museum curators and art market experts will be sharing their knowledge and expertise in a wide range of fascinating fields. It's a great opportunity to discover works of art, artists and periods, and to learn more about art and the art market!
Daily at 4pm, from Sunday, January 25th to Sunday, February 1st, 2026 - except on Monday, January 26th.
Download the full programme
25/01/2025
How is art authenticated? The unique discovery of a Vermeer in Belgium
By Hubert d’Ursel, Director Benelux, The Fine Art Group and Gregory Rubinstein, Head of Old Masters & Early British Drawings, worldwide at Sotheby’s in London
It is a rare occurrence for new attributions to be made to great masters, or for works to be rediscovered. The last Johannes Vermeer, Young Woman Seated at a Virginal, n° 37 of his recognised works, was found 30 years ago in Belgium. The painting, which had been attributed to Vermeer before the Second World War, had not been shown in public since 1907, and had been neglected and ignored by specialists for more than 60 years. In 1993, the owner entrusted it to Sotheby’s, which embarked on a 10-year research programme before definitively confirming it as a Vermeer and presenting it on the international market in 2004. This is something that hardly ever happens, worthy of a novel. These exceptional events took place in Belgium, and Hubert d’Ursel and Gregory Rubinstein experienced them firsthand.
Language of the talk: English
Join us at 4pm at the stand King Baudouin Foundation n°135
Copyrights: Johannes Vermeer (Delft, 1632-1675), Young Woman Seated at a Virginal, circa 1672-1675, oil on canvas, 25.5 x 20.1 cm, The Leiden collection
Hubert d’Ursel © Martin Pilette
It is a rare occurrence for new attributions to be made to great masters, or for works to be rediscovered. The last Johannes Vermeer, Young Woman Seated at a Virginal, n° 37 of his recognised works, was found 30 years ago in Belgium. The painting, which had been attributed to Vermeer before the Second World War, had not been shown in public since 1907, and had been neglected and ignored by specialists for more than 60 years. In 1993, the owner entrusted it to Sotheby’s, which embarked on a 10-year research programme before definitively confirming it as a Vermeer and presenting it on the international market in 2004. This is something that hardly ever happens, worthy of a novel. These exceptional events took place in Belgium, and Hubert d’Ursel and Gregory Rubinstein experienced them firsthand.
Language of the talk: English
Join us at 4pm at the stand King Baudouin Foundation n°135
Copyrights: Johannes Vermeer (Delft, 1632-1675), Young Woman Seated at a Virginal, circa 1672-1675, oil on canvas, 25.5 x 20.1 cm, The Leiden collection
Hubert d’Ursel © Martin Pilette
26/01/2025
Samuel van Hoogstraten, the Exhibition - at last!
By Leonore van Sloten, Senior Curator, Museum Rembrandthuis, Amsterdam
It is the unfortunate fate of many of Rembrandt’s pupils: to stand in his shadow. Samuel van Hoogstraten (1627-1678) is one of them. Although he has become famous in our time for the book he wrote about painting—because it gives us insight into how Rembrandt thought about art—how Van Hoogstraten's own painted and drawn work looks, and how successful he was as an artist, is completely unknown to many. Therefore, Museum Rembrandthuis, in collaboration with the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, is taking on this challenge. In two consecutive exhibitions at both museums, the life and work of this remarkable artist from Dordrecht are finally being highlighted. Senior Curator of the Rembrandthuis, Leonore van Sloten, will take you through the exhibition story in this lecture and introduce you to Van Hoogstraten's special fascination with illusionistic art. That it was precisely his master Rembrandt who planted the seeds for this deserves special attention, of course.
In collaboration with CODART
Language of the talk: English
Join us at 4pm at the stand King Baudouin Foundation n°135
Copyright: Samuel van Hoogstraten, Old Man at the Window, 1653, oil on canvas, 111 x 86.5 cm, Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Gemäldegalerie, inv. n° 378
It is the unfortunate fate of many of Rembrandt’s pupils: to stand in his shadow. Samuel van Hoogstraten (1627-1678) is one of them. Although he has become famous in our time for the book he wrote about painting—because it gives us insight into how Rembrandt thought about art—how Van Hoogstraten's own painted and drawn work looks, and how successful he was as an artist, is completely unknown to many. Therefore, Museum Rembrandthuis, in collaboration with the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, is taking on this challenge. In two consecutive exhibitions at both museums, the life and work of this remarkable artist from Dordrecht are finally being highlighted. Senior Curator of the Rembrandthuis, Leonore van Sloten, will take you through the exhibition story in this lecture and introduce you to Van Hoogstraten's special fascination with illusionistic art. That it was precisely his master Rembrandt who planted the seeds for this deserves special attention, of course.
In collaboration with CODART
Language of the talk: English
Join us at 4pm at the stand King Baudouin Foundation n°135
Copyright: Samuel van Hoogstraten, Old Man at the Window, 1653, oil on canvas, 111 x 86.5 cm, Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Gemäldegalerie, inv. n° 378
28/01/2025
100 years ago: Belgium at the Paris Exhibition of Decorative Arts
By Prof. Dr. Werner Adriaenssens, Professor of Decorative Arts at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
In 1925, Paris hosted the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts, which gave rise to the term 'Art Deco'. Belgium, one of the twenty participating countries, played a key role, with prestigious contributions from pioneers of Belgian Art Nouveau such as Victor Horta and Philippe Wolfers. There is a fascinating backstory to this participation: Belgium, which was still in the process of reconstruction after the First World War, overcame formidable obstacles in order to attend the Exhibition. Thanks to archival research, Werner Adriaenssens will reveal the captivating story of the Belgian participation and its surprising consequences.
Language of the talk: French
Join us at 4pm at the stand King Baudouin Foundation n°135
Copyright: Victor Horta, Pavillon belge at l’Exposition internationale des Arts décoratifs et industriels modernes de Paris, 1925 © Royal Museums of Art and History (KMKG-MRAH)
In 1925, Paris hosted the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts, which gave rise to the term 'Art Deco'. Belgium, one of the twenty participating countries, played a key role, with prestigious contributions from pioneers of Belgian Art Nouveau such as Victor Horta and Philippe Wolfers. There is a fascinating backstory to this participation: Belgium, which was still in the process of reconstruction after the First World War, overcame formidable obstacles in order to attend the Exhibition. Thanks to archival research, Werner Adriaenssens will reveal the captivating story of the Belgian participation and its surprising consequences.
Language of the talk: French
Join us at 4pm at the stand King Baudouin Foundation n°135
Copyright: Victor Horta, Pavillon belge at l’Exposition internationale des Arts décoratifs et industriels modernes de Paris, 1925 © Royal Museums of Art and History (KMKG-MRAH)
29/01/2025
Joan Miró - Sculptures
By Brigitte Bloksma, Director and Conservator of the Beelden aan Zee museum, The Hague
Joan Miró broke artistic boundaries by combining painting and poetry, amongst other things. His Surrealist artworks abound in mysterious signs and symbols. Until March 2nd, 2025, the Beelden aan Zee Museum in The Hague will be presenting Joan Miró – Sculptures, a unique retrospective organised in collaboration with the Fundació Joan Miró in Barcelona. The exhibition features 55 works, including plaster studies, ceramics, assemblages and monument commissions from six renowned museums and private collections. At the conference, Brigitte Bloksma will discuss the creation of the exhibition, Miró’s sources of inspiration and his constant search for new ideas, materials and techniques.
Language of the talk: Dutch
Join us at 4pm at the stand King Baudouin Foundation n°135
Copyrights: Joan Miró - Sculptures in Beelden aan Zee Museum. All works by Joan Miró © Successió Miró c/o Pictoright Amsterdam 2024. Studio Gerrit Schreurs
Joan Miró broke artistic boundaries by combining painting and poetry, amongst other things. His Surrealist artworks abound in mysterious signs and symbols. Until March 2nd, 2025, the Beelden aan Zee Museum in The Hague will be presenting Joan Miró – Sculptures, a unique retrospective organised in collaboration with the Fundació Joan Miró in Barcelona. The exhibition features 55 works, including plaster studies, ceramics, assemblages and monument commissions from six renowned museums and private collections. At the conference, Brigitte Bloksma will discuss the creation of the exhibition, Miró’s sources of inspiration and his constant search for new ideas, materials and techniques.
Language of the talk: Dutch
Join us at 4pm at the stand King Baudouin Foundation n°135
Copyrights: Joan Miró - Sculptures in Beelden aan Zee Museum. All works by Joan Miró © Successió Miró c/o Pictoright Amsterdam 2024. Studio Gerrit Schreurs
30/01/2025
Where do we stand?
By Cathelijne Blok, art historian and journalist, founder of art platform The TittyMag, which invites dialogue and reflection through art and author of a second book ‘Maar is het Kunst?’ . She will be in conversation with Sofie Van de Velde, Gallery owner and BRAFA participant, Andrea Davina, Director of Niemeijer Fonds Foundation, an advisor in the financial and art world and an art collector with a focus on women artists and Femke Hameetman, Director of the Dordrechts Museum, Huis Van Gijn, Regionaal Archief Dordrecht and the Hof van Nederland
What is the place of women artists at art fairs and museums? What do gallery owners and curators make of this? Are women art collectors turning the tables of the art market?
Language of the talk: Dutch
Join us at 4pm at the stand King Baudouin Foundation n°135
Copyright: Sofie Van de Velde © Philippe Matthys
What is the place of women artists at art fairs and museums? What do gallery owners and curators make of this? Are women art collectors turning the tables of the art market?
Language of the talk: Dutch
Join us at 4pm at the stand King Baudouin Foundation n°135
Copyright: Sofie Van de Velde © Philippe Matthys
31/01/2025
Digital Renaissance: Blockchain, NFTs, and the Evolving Art Market Ecosystem
By Annick Schramme, Professor in cultural management at the University of Antwerp; Liliana Turoiu, PhD in Visual Art & Aesthetics; Anne-Sophie V. Radermecker, Associate Professor (Université libre de Bruxelles, Department of History, Arts, Cultural Management) and Adriano Picinati di Torcello, Global Art & Finance coordinator for the Deloitte group Luxembourg. The speakers will be presented by GiannaLia Cogliandro Beyens, Secretary General of ENCATC, the European network on cultural management and policy.
The art market has undergone a digital revolution, driven by the rise of blockchain technologies, crypto-currencies and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Five years after the media frenzy caused by the pandemic, what effects have these cutting-edge technologies had on the art market, and on the cultural and creative industries more generally?
In partnership with ENCATC
Language of the talk: English
Join us at 4pm at the stand King Baudouin Foundation n°135
The art market has undergone a digital revolution, driven by the rise of blockchain technologies, crypto-currencies and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Five years after the media frenzy caused by the pandemic, what effects have these cutting-edge technologies had on the art market, and on the cultural and creative industries more generally?
In partnership with ENCATC
Language of the talk: English
Join us at 4pm at the stand King Baudouin Foundation n°135
01/02/2025
What’s the future of my collection?
By Marc Hemeleers, Partner at Eeckman, Sabine Taevernier, Art Advisor; François Derème, Lawyer at the Brussels Bar, Graduate in Notary and Taxation; and Eléonore de Sadeleer, Director of Fondation CAB
Moderator: Eric Hemeleers, Administrator of Eeckman and Chairman of PatrimOne in Belgium
How to protect, enhance and transmit an art collection in 2025? This round table discussion will bring together experts around issues relating to the transfer, management and protection of works of art. Through their discussions and analyses, they will address current issues and offer perspectives on the strategies to adopt in order to preserve and perpetuate one’s artistic heritage.
In partnership with Eeckman
Language of the talk: French
Join us at 4pm at the stand King Baudouin Foundation n°135
Moderator: Eric Hemeleers, Administrator of Eeckman and Chairman of PatrimOne in Belgium
How to protect, enhance and transmit an art collection in 2025? This round table discussion will bring together experts around issues relating to the transfer, management and protection of works of art. Through their discussions and analyses, they will address current issues and offer perspectives on the strategies to adopt in order to preserve and perpetuate one’s artistic heritage.
In partnership with Eeckman
Language of the talk: French
Join us at 4pm at the stand King Baudouin Foundation n°135
alifeinthearttrade_T638653741689012187.png?width=500&height=300&format=jpg&mode=pad&scale=both&qlt=80)
02/02/2025
Ernest Gambart (1814-1902) a life in the art trade
By Filippe De Potter, independent researcher and co-author of the publication Ernest Gambart (1814-1902), een leven in de kunsthandel (2023)
Ernest Gambart, born in Courtrai, was one of the leading art dealers of the nineteenth century. He set up a successful art gallery in London, the French Gallery. He helped launch the careers of artists such as Lawrence Alma-Tadema (Dronrijp 1836-1912 Wiesbaden), Rosa Bonheur (Bordeaux 1822-1899 Thomery) and Sarah Bernhardt (Paris, 1844-1923). This lecture will examine the dealer’s life and work, his importance in the art trade and his personal art collection in his villa ‘Les Palmiers’ in Nice.
Language of the talk: Dutch
Join us at 4pm at the stand King Baudouin Foundation n°135
Copyright: Lawrence Alma-Tadema, The Picture Gallery, 1874, Towneley Hall Art Gallery and Museum, Burnley
Ernest Gambart, born in Courtrai, was one of the leading art dealers of the nineteenth century. He set up a successful art gallery in London, the French Gallery. He helped launch the careers of artists such as Lawrence Alma-Tadema (Dronrijp 1836-1912 Wiesbaden), Rosa Bonheur (Bordeaux 1822-1899 Thomery) and Sarah Bernhardt (Paris, 1844-1923). This lecture will examine the dealer’s life and work, his importance in the art trade and his personal art collection in his villa ‘Les Palmiers’ in Nice.
Language of the talk: Dutch
Join us at 4pm at the stand King Baudouin Foundation n°135
Copyright: Lawrence Alma-Tadema, The Picture Gallery, 1874, Towneley Hall Art Gallery and Museum, Burnley