After a resounding success at the Musée Maillol in Paris and La Sucrière in Lyon, an unprecedented exhibition on the American photographer recently opened on the Grand Place in Brussels. Since its opening in Belgium, the exhibition has been packed to the rafters, with visitors instantly seduced by Elliott Erwitt‘s unique world of humor and tenderness. As journalists, it was our duty to visit this retrospective and share our impressions with you. Spoiler: we came away smiling ear to ear.
All in all, the exhibition has already had over 300,000 visitors in all cities, is rated 4.7/5 and the reviews are dithyrambic!
Jean-François M. – “Intimate scenography, enlightening audio commentaries, impeccable selection of images: everything is great in this delightful retrospective, which allows us to (re)discover Elliott Erwitt’s unique eye and sense of humor.”
📅 Good news: the exhibition has been extended following its success! 📅
He has been a member of Magnum Photos since 1954 (alongside contemporaries such as Robert Capa, David Seymour and Henry Cartier-Bresson). And yet, despite his undeniable talent, exhibitions on Erwitt have been few and far between. So our curiosity was piqued. Especially as it was raining that day, and we had to take shelter. After a coffee at the iconic Mokafé (a place that would have pleased our buddy Elliott) and some shopping later, we slipped through the raindrops to find shelter at number 5 Grand-Place, an ultra-accessible, as well as welcoming, venue.
The immersive, dynamic scenography, featuring photos and archival videos of interviews with the artist, instantly captivates the visitor’s eye. Elliott Erwitt appears, all smiles, and offers us a lesson in hedonism as only he can. We discover an engaging and sensitive character. In short, we are immediately immersed in his world, as he takes us on a personal photographic journey.
And what a journey it is! Yes, because Elliott was a prolific photographer.Between 200 shots, each one funnier and more accurate than the last, we find ourselves smiling, or even laughing out loud. Between the bonhomie of the dogs – the artist was a great animal lover – and the banality of everyday scenes transformed into strokes of genius, we’re won over. His work takes on a universal aspect, transcending the boundaries of art.
What’s more, the exhibition appeals to all generations. It’s easy to wander through the various themed rooms without having to worry about Jules, my 9-year-old cousin, busy filling in his quiz. In fact, he even received a stamp at the end, proof of his commitment! The exhibition was neither too long nor too short: a considerable advantage when visiting an exhibition with the whole family! And don’t forget: if you prefer animals to people (rather like Elliott), you can even visit the exhibition with your dog during the Rendez-Woof! Yet another touch of humor from a photographer we now feel we know well.