The Europalia festival has opened in Brussels, dedicated entirely to Spain this autumn and winter. The opening ceremony took place at the Bozar cultural center, where the large-scale exhibition “Light and Shadow. Goya and Spanish Realism” is on display. The show brings together works by 64 artists, including not only Francisco Goya himself but also Picasso, Saura, Sorolla, Oteiza, Blasco, Gordillo, as well as contemporary creators. A total of 236 pieces are presented, a third of which are by Goya.
The exhibition is not limited to the retrospective of a single master. The curators aimed to show how Goya’s artistry influenced generations of Spanish artists. Visitors can observe how his ideas and images were reinterpreted in the works of Picasso, Arroyo, Gaya, as well as in contemporary video installations by Albert Serra and Álvaro Perdices. Special attention is paid to the themes of war, the female image, and bullfighting—motifs that run through engravings, paintings, and even cinema.
A significant part of the program is dedicated to music: in November, the Cuarteto Quiroga will perform at Europalia with a program focused on Madrid’s music from Goya’s era. In January, pianist Javier Perianes will give a concert at Bozar dedicated to Manuel de Falla. Other Belgian cities will host concerts by Silvia Pérez Cruz and Salvador Sobral, as well as a theater production of “1936” by director Andrés Lima, brought by the Teatro Nacional Dramático de España.
The exhibition at Bozar will be open until January 11. The display features works from Spain’s major museums — Prado, Reina Sofia, Sorolla, Lázaro Galdiano — as well as from the American Meadows Museum, which has loaned Goya’s rare painting “The Madhouse.” Alongside Brussels, Goya’s works can also be seen at the Museum de Reede in Antwerp.
The Europalia Festival is more than just exhibitions. Over four months, Belgium will host concerts, film screenings, literary evenings, and presentations of emerging Spanish artists. This week, Mechelen opens an exhibition dedicated to director Iván Zulueta, also featuring works by Marta Azparren, Esperanza Collado, and Beatriz Lobo. The Spanish program is supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Instituto Cervantes, with the participation of the royal couple — King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia personally opened the exhibition in Brussels.
