A poster by Adolphe Crespin
This poster, designed by Adolphe Crespin, serves as an advertisement for Paul Hankar's studio, which opened around 1894 at 63 rue Defacqz, now number 71. From 1888 onward, the architect collaborated with Crespin to create various graphic elements for his buildings, such as textiles, graffiti, and wallpaper.
At the peak of its popularity, the poster becomes a key tool in spreading the new artistic style, particularly due to its fleeting nature. Its flexible format and innovative colour printing processes revolutionized the applied arts.
In the image, we see Hankar working in his studio. The honeycomb-patterned background evokes a beehive, symbolising creativity and industriousness. Hankar, in comfortable slippers, glasses on his nose, cigarette in his left hand, and stylus in his right, is focused on retouching a drawing. The elements in the scene highlight his role as an architect: a ruler at the top indicates his age (35), a plumb bob on the left side, and a try-square on his desk underscore his technical expertise.
Beyond portraying the man and his profession, the poster encapsulates Hankar's artistic vision. The numerous references to the Far East, a hallmark of his work, are clearly present. Crespin's highly stylised yet symbolically rich poster balances realism with innovation. Lauded both in Belgium and internationally for its groundbreaking design, the poster provides an intimate look at an architect passionately redrawing the city's skyline. For the first time, an architect is celebrated not through a building but through his portrait, affirming that the architect has become an artist.
Discover this keywork of Crespin in the temporary exhibition Belgian Art Nouveau
Belgian Art Nouveau. Van de Velde, Serrurier-Bovy, Hankar & Co.
Until the 4 May 2025
