The Musée d’Ixelles, Brussels, founded in 1892 as a result of an important legacy of art objects from the painter-cum-collector Edmond de Pratere (1826–1888) and from the Brussels lawyer Octave Maus (1856–1919), posseses a collection of paintings and posters nearly 13,000 strong, the oldest pieces dating back to the 14th century. Enlightened management soon enabled the museum to make a name for itself and actively develop an ambitious policy of temporary exhibitions thanks to successive enlargements between 1973 and 1994.
Jules Cheret and the Belle Epoque – from posters to decor can be seen at the Musée d’Ixelles from 1 March to 20 May 2012. The exhibition was previously on view in the Advertising Galleries of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris from 23 June to 7 November 2010. Curated by Réjane Bargiel, head curator of the Advertising Collections at Les Arts Décoratifs, and Ségolène Le Men, Professor at the Université de Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense, the exhibition enables us to rediscover the work of Jules Chéret. Nearly 240 of the artist’s original works have been brought together for the first time for this exhibition, made possible by a partnership between three European institutions: the Museum Villa Stuck in Munich in Germany, the Musée d’Ixelles in Brussels and the Musée Toulouse-Lautrec in Albi.