An Unknown Identity

Magritte Museum

I am very interested in the identity of the Belgian people due to the division of its people into the two primary language groups of French and Dutch. After learning about the history of the Dutch language and its inferior status in relation to the French language, I cannot help but to observe relations between the French and Dutch, looking for any signs of hostility or soreness regarding the language difference.

Magritte Museum

In lecture, we learned that the Dutch people still possess a sensitivity towards the superiority of the French language. I believe this sensitivity is revealed in the need for the organization of the Dutch Language Union. As mentioned in my journal entry for Wednesday's class, our speaker Kevin noted the extent to which Dutch-speaking people still resist the French language. Today, at an organizational level, the influence of the French language is held at bay. As the organization regulates the Dutch vocabulary, it is able to monitor and control the words added. French words are not allowed. instead the organization attempts to create its own Dutch word equivalent for the French word in question.

I kept all of this in mind when we visited the Magritte Museum. Thus far, I have not really seen or heard many Dutch people in Brussels. French seems to be the dominant language in the area we are currently residing. The same applied to the Magritte Museum. I found it surprising that the museum exhibition of Magritte's work was more French friendly than it was Dutch. while the exhibition placards stated the title in three languages, English, French, and Dutch, the largest printed quotes shown along the walls were written in French.

Just to instigate a little, I wonder how the Dutch people in Brussels identify with this body of work as it is exhibited with this connection to the French speaking people of the city. I looked up Magritte to learn a little bit more about his personal identity, to learn whether he was French or Dutch. The painting above with his dispersing image, shows how difficult it is pinpoint who Magritte identifies with. All that was listed was his national identity, Belgian, presenting a whole new level of questions and thoughts. As he is identified solely by national identity, there is a sense that his work is Belgian, and his work is therefore for all of his country. Identity is presented as national, as unified, despite the split of languages.

So far I have not really seen this. The nation is divided and the French seem to possess the more prominent identity in Brussels's society. No matter that Magritte identifies as Belgian, his work is exhibited to a French audience.

 

Sophia