Yale University will host an international exhibition exploring the intersection of book arts and graphic art in Belgium. The Belgian Illustrated Book: 1918-2004 will be held in Sterling Memorial Library from February 4 through April 29, 2005. The exhibition is jointly sponsored by the Arts of the Book Collection, Yale University Library; the Departments of French and Comparative Literature; Le Commissariat Général des Relations Internationales (Belgium); and Les Archives et Musée de la Littérature (Bibliothèque Royale Albert Ier). The Belgian Illustrated Book: 1918-2004 explores the evolution and flourishing of illustrated books in the Flemish and French-speaking regions of Belgium and pays special attention to the astonishing development of the bande dessinée (comic strip or book) in Belgium during the twentieth-century.

Situated between the major cultural centers Amsterdam and Paris and with a population divided into two major linguistic groups, Belgium has a strong tradition of book illustration, as well as the publication of illustrated books priced for popular sale. A tradition of images with or without words has emerged and contemporary artists, such as Olivier Deprez, continue the lineage, which boasts artists such as Frans Maseerel, Henri Michaux, and Marcel Broodthaers. An important part of this tradition, the bande dessinée, establishes its first great claim with the Tintin series by Hergé and continues via many other artists such as Jijé and Franquin, appealing to a wide adult as well as a younger audience. The portion of the exhibit focusing on bandes dessinées will be displayed in the nave and may be viewed whenever the Sterling Library is open. Works produced in the fine press tradition will be on display in the Arts of the Book Reading Room (Sterling Library first floor) and may be viewed on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Additional Saturday hours are available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on February 5 and April 23.

The exhibit narrative in French and English as well as the exhibit checklist are available online.

A symposium marking the opening of the exhibition will be held on Friday, February 4, from 1:30 to 4 p.m., in the Sterling Memorial Library Lecture Hall, 130 Wall St. The symposium will be followed immediately by a reception. The program includes brief presentations from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m. by

• Jan Baetens, University of Leuven (Belgium)
  • "North and South"
• David Berona, University of New Hampshire
  • "The Magic of Woodcuts in the Book Illustrations of Frans Masereel and Olivier Deprez"
• Olivier Deprez, Belgian artist and critic
  • "Un cas particulier de ressemblance dans les intersémiotiques: écrire à coups de gouges, des coups de gouges pour écrire"
• Michael Kasper, Amherst College
  • "Belgian Surrealist Page Design"

• Jean-Marie Apostolidès,Stanford University,
  • "Tintin and the Myth of the Superchild"

All presentations, except for the one by Olivier Deprez, will be in English. The public is invited to the exhibition, symposium, and reception without charge. Questions concerning the exposition and symposium may be directed to Jae Rossman, at (203) 432-1712 or jae.rossman@yale.edu, or Charles A. Porter, at charles.porter@yale.edu.

Travel directions can be found at http://www.library.yale.edu/libraries/smldirect.html