Brussels

The second floor.

The entrance to Horta's art nouveau building which now houses the Comic Arts Museum.

If you think that comics and graphic novels are a trivial endeavour, you must visit Brussel's Comic Arts Museum on the Rue des Sables.

Housed in an Art Nouveau building designed by Victor Horta, the museum presents a comprehensive history of the 'bande dessinee'. Copious examples of comics from all periods, displays illustrating the working methods of the authors/artists from initial notes and scripting to the finished product, and explanations of techniques ranging from hand-drawn and inked pages to the use of modern graphics tablets and computers will keep you occupied for a few hours. And as you can see in the photos, there are numerous 'life size' figures and artifacts from a variety of strips on display throughout the museum.

When you are finished looking around, there is a restaurant and a well-stocked shop worth a visit.

I know this must sound like a promotion for the museum but it really is a pleasant experience. The building is interesting in itself and the museum's bright, elegant interior and displays are a pleasure.

[ The museum's official name is Centre Belge de la Bande Dessinée/Belgisch Centrum van het Beeldverhaal. ]

looking down into the lobby.