E.L.T. Mesens - His Contribution to the Dada and Surrealist Movements in Belgium and England

Aug 24, 2026

This PhD thesis surveys E.L. T. Mesens’ activities within the Dada and Surrealist movements and provides an initial assessment of his artistic and literary work. It traces his career as an organiser and polemicist, showing how early Dada contacts in Brussels and Paris shaped his outlook in art and poetry, and how Antwerp and Brussels Dada developments were linked to wider European influences. It compares Surrealist theory and practice across Paris and Brussels, evaluates Mesens’ theoretical position in Belgium, and situates the study within Belgian late nineteenth and early twentieth-century movements, then analyzes his work as an art dealer in Belgium (1928-1938) and England (1938-1950), his poetry (1923-1940), and his collages from the 1920s through 1954 until his death in 1971.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages328

Reading Time13 h 47 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

E.L.T. Mesens’ biography and roles in Dada and Surrealism

Sources and scholarly context

Chapter

E.L.T. Mesens: The Early Years

Modernism in Belgium

The Dada Movement, 1916-1922

Surrealist Art in France

Dada in Belgium

Surrealism in Belgium

Mesens’ Understanding of Dada and Surrealism

Mesens’ Work as an Art Dealer in Belgium 1924-1938

Mesens’ Poetry

Mesens’ Early Collages, 1924-1931

Mesens’ Work as an Art Dealer in London 1936-1940

Mesens’ Collages, 1954-1971

Mesens in London 1940-1950

Conclusion

List of Illustrations

Appendix

Extract from "Le Miroir infidèle" "Le Savoir Vivre" (Brussels, 1946)

One man exhibitions of Mesens’ collages

Group exhibitions featuring Mesens’ work

Mesens’ Collection

Bibliography

DIANA NAYLOR E.L.T.MESENS:HIS CONTRIBUTION TO THEDADA AND SURREALIST MOVEMENTS IN BELG IUMAND ENGLAND AS ARTIST,POET AND DEALER. A THESIS SUBMITTED FOR THE DEG REE OF Ph.D.UNIVERSITY COLLEGE,LONDON. E.L.T.MESEN S:HIS CONTRIBUTION TO THEDADA AND SURREALIST MOVEMENTS IN BELGIUMAND ENG LAND AS ARTIST,POET AND DEALER. A BST RACT OF THESIS The aim of this thesis is to provide a survey of E.L.T.Mesens'activities within the Dada and Surrealist movements and an initial assessment of his work. The thesis outlines Mesens'career and considers his workas an organiser and polemicist of the Dada and Surrealist movements inBelgium and the Surrealist movement in England.The period in whichMesens initiated Dada activities in Brussels and developed importantcontacts with Paris,though brief,affected his whole outlook on art andpoetry.The devel opment of Dada and the work of a number of European Dadaists whose work influenced Mesens'own development andthe Dada movement in Antwerp and Brussels is discussed.Differencesemerged between the th eory and practice of Surrealism in Paris andBrussels and the thesis considers the diverging development ofSur realism in each of these centres.Mesens'invol vement in theSurrealist movement in Belgium is examined and his theoretical positionis appraised.The thesis also briefly outlines late nineteenth and earlytwentieth century art movements in Belgium,in particular Symbolismand Expressionism,in order that the Dada and Surrealist movements maybe seen in context. Mesen s'main efforts were concentrated in'his work asan art dealer in Brussels and London,where he promoted the work ofDada and Surrealist artists in particular.From 1954 onwards,however,he turned to the making of collage,amedium which he had alreadyexplored during the 1920's.The thesis will provide an examination ofMesens'work as an art deal er in Belgium between 1928 and 1938,and in England between 1938 and 1950.It will provide an analysis ofMesens'poetry,mostly written between 1923 and 1940,and his collagesboth of the early period in the 1920's,and later from 1954 until hisdeath in April 1971. # TA BLE OF CONTENTS Page No. Introduction. 5 Chapter 1.E.L.T.Mesens.The Early Years. 8 2. Modernism in Belgium. 31 3. The Dada Movement,1916-1922. 42 4. Surrealist Art in France. 64 5. Dada in Belgium.88 103 6. Surrealism in Belgium. 7. Mesens'Understanding of Dada and Surrealism. 123 8. Mesens'Work as an Art Dealer in Belgium 1924-1938.132 9. Mesens'Poetry.144 10.Mesens'Early Collages,1924-1931. 157 11.Mesens'Work as an Art Dealer in London 1936-1940.170 12.Mesens'Collages,1954-1971. 221 260 13.Mesens in London 1940-1950. 289 Conclusion. 293 List of Illustrations. Appendix A.Extract from"Le Miroir infidèle"Le Savoir Vivre,Brussels,1946. 302 B. One man exhibitions of Mesens'collages,listed chronologically. 305 C.Group exhibitions in which Mesens'work wasexhibited,listed chronologically. 306 D.Mesens Collection. 308 Bibliography. # INTRODUCTION E.L.T.Mesens(1903-1971)was very well known inSurrealist circles in London,Paris and Brussels.Abandoning a musicalcareer in 1926,Mesens worked as an art dealer in Brussels until 1938when he moved to London and opened The London Gallery.The galleryclosed in 1950 and Mesens devoted the remaining years of his life tomaking collages and occasionally mounting exhibitions.He wrote poetryfrom 1923 onwards and his complete works were eventually published inParis in 1958. Mesens played a maior part in establishing Surrealism in Belgium through his early connections with the Dada and Surrealistpainters and poets in Paris;and in his capacity as an art dealer he pub-licised the work of French,Belgian,German,English and AmericanDada and Surrealist artists.In London Mesens worked with the EnglishSurrealist Group until its demise in 1947,exhibiting their work andorganising many of their activities,and he mounted important ex

FAQs

What is the main goal of the thesis on E.L.T. Mesens?

The thesis aims to survey Mesens’ activities within the Dada and Surrealist movements and to provide an initial assessment of his work.

How does the thesis frame Mesens’ contribution to Dada and Surrealism?

It examines his career as an organiser and polemicist, his influence through early Paris connections, and his evolving involvement in Belgium and England across Dada and Surrealism.

What aspects of Mesens’ creative output and professional work are analyzed?

The thesis studies his work as an art dealer in Belgium and London, his poetry written mainly from 1923 to 1940, and his collages from the early 1920s and again from 1954 until 1971.

Aug 24, 2026

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