The École Van der Kelen-Logelain, a unique and mythologized painting school in Brussels founded in 1892, continues to operate under strict, traditional methods. Students endure a rigorous six-month winter course, adhering to rules like mandatory white lab coats, silence, and no phones, to master specialized decorative painting skills, most notably the art of trompe l'oeil, or illusionistic painting.
The school, now run by the founder's granddaughter Sylvie Van der Kelen, faces existential challenges as the demand for decorative painting has waned in the 21st century. Despite low enrollment and a punishing routine that reportedly causes weekly student breakdowns, it persists as a global destination for artists seeking rare, hands-on mastery of a nearly forgotten craft, representing a living archive of a specific artistic tradition.