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Homework till midnight and ‘one breakdown a week’: the mysterious art school keeping a forgotten style alive

By The Guardian Culture · 2026-03-19
Homework till midnight and ‘one breakdown a week’: the mysterious art school keeping a forgotten style alive
Why it matters: This school highlights the enduring appeal of traditional art forms in a rapidly modernizing world.
A historic Brussels workshop, established in 1892, continues to draw international aspiring painters to master the demanding art of trompe l'oeil. Despite the brutal workload, with students reporting late nights and frequent breakdowns, the school thrives as a unique preserver of this forgotten artistic style.

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