In the 19th century, the world of work was the subject of numerous paintings and sculptures, including much of the work of Constantin Meunier. The Industrial Revolution spawned a new set of social and artistic demands, and it was from this upheaval that Art Nouveau emerged, catering to a range of middle-class tastes and budgets, from the affluent (Horta) to the artistic (Hankar) to the more modest (Blerot, Van Waesberghe, etc.).

Was Art Nouveau elitist? Yes, it was (like many new ideas), but it also sought to bring greater well-being, light and comfort into the lives of manual workers and domestic servants.

Starting from Rue de l'Abbaye/Abdijstraat, once home to Meunier, we'll be stopping outside a number of Art Nouveau houses, some of them not particularly well known. We'll also learn about architects who combined eclecticism and Art Nouveau, before finishing on a high note in front of Victor Horta's Hôtel Tassel.

Join us for this pleasant stroll through a charming 19th-century neighbourhood.