How to unravel gender stereotypes in the collections? The virile, brutal man; the gentle, maternal, nurturing woman, confined to domestic roles; or on the contrary, the temptress, sinner, even guilty one: examples of stereotypes deeply rooted in the collective imagination and also conveyed through art. 

Through a new display, the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium focus on these gender-related stereotypes. Art x Gender questions how images and artworks reinforce or challenge such representations. 

Fernand Khnopff, Cécile Douard, Pierre Bonnard, Marie Laurencin, Louis Gallait, Jane Graverol, Vic Gentils, Anna Staritsky, Arman, Olga Morano ... From the 16th to the 20th century, from Lucas Cranach to Roger Raveel, nearly 30 works are exhibited for the occasion at the heart of the Old Masters Museum, some of them for the very first time. 

And because the reflection does not stop at a single room, it extends throughout the collections, with a guided trail encouraging visitors to continue questioning stereotypes within the permanent displays. In addition, a new participatory program designed for 15–20 year olds is offered to school groups. 

This scientific and critical perspective on a societal issue is part of a broader process of deconstruction, fully aligned with the museums’ medium-term ambition: to become an institution anchored in society, more open, and more aware of the narratives it conveys.