MEUNIER, CONSTANTINÉMILE

(1831-1905)

The sculptor and painter Constantin-Émile Meunier was born inEtterbeekon 12 April 1831. Following training as a sculptor at theAcadémie royale des Beaux-Arts, he made his reputation first as a naturalist painter. Known especially for painting religious scenes in his early career, Meunier undertook study trips to Liège and the Borinage coal-mining district in Hainault (1879-1881) after which he produced paintings of industrial landscapes peopled by the laboring classes, notably miners and forge workers. He transferred this theme to sculptural works and was largely responsible for introducing social realism into Belgiansculpture. HisGrisou(1889) is the most well known among a series of statues depicting working-class subjects. Meunier's colossalMonument au Travail(Monument to work), erected posthumously and now at the Vergote basin inLaeken, features four large reliefs and gigantic figures. His home in Etterbeek, where he died on 4 April 1905, is now amuseum.

A square inIxellesbears his name. A replica of hissculptureDockworkerstands in its center.