A Visit to the Museum Leuven

(WARNING: This post contains a history lesson)
Last week, we went to tour the M - Museum Leuven know as the M.  A special exhibit was on display titled, "Ravaged, Art and Culture in Times of Conflict".  This exhibit was in commemoration of the 100th year after the First World War. 

Belgium was on the front lines of the War having been the first nation attacked by Germany.  Belgium proved very frustrating to the Germans and delayed their advance by over a month. After Leuven was taken, the Germans claimed that Belgium sharpshooters were active in the city. The German's response was to kill hundreds of civilians in retaliation and burn many parts of the city including the University Library and over 1000 homes. 

This exhibit takes the fire in Leuven as the starting point to create a larger picture.  Throughout the centuries there have been countless examples of conflicts in which cultural heritage has been a target. Ravaged takes five themes to show how artists depicted the havoc and plundering; the ravaged city, the ruins, deliberate destruction, propaganda and art as war booty.

I did not take any photos in the exhibit, but I was very moved by the destruction.  The exhibit takes a historical event into the present by featuring modern-day Beruit as an example of havoc and plundering.