Fonds Lucien De Roeck

Did Lucien De Roeck ever imagine his name would grace a building like this, the Fonds Lucien De Roeck? This archive, established in 1998, stands as a testament to his prolific life and career. The Fonds Lucien De Roeck, right here in Brussels, houses a treasure trove of sketches, plans, posters, and correspondence. It offers a glimpse into the mind of the man who shaped the visual identity of Expo 58. De Roeck, born in 1915, wasn’t just a graphic designer. He was a typographer, illustrator, and teacher. He honed his skills at La Cambre, graduating in 1935. Even as a student, he won a competition to design a promotional poster for Antwerp. He later won another for the Ostend-Dover ferry. The Fonds Lucien De Roeck contains over 400 sketchbooks. These sketchbooks reveal De Roeck’s lifelong habit of sketching for at least 10 minutes each day. From his early fascination with the Scheldt River to his wartime experiences, his life is documented through his art. During World War II, paper was scarce. De Roeck drew on tablecloths, cardboard, and whatever he could find. He even sketched cubist drawings depicting soldiers, planes, and explosions. The Fonds Lucien De Roeck showcases his diverse work. He designed for newspapers like La Lanterne, Le Phare, La Cité, and Le Quotidien. He also illustrated theater reviews for the paper Pan. His design for Expo 58, with its iconic five-pointed star, became a symbol of the era. De Roeck even constructed luminescent 3D versions of the star for the expo itself. He was awarded honorary badges from the Order of Leopold II in 1960 and the Order of Leopold in 1966 for his contributions. The Fonds Lucien De Roeck preserves his legacy, allowing us to appreciate the scope of his work and his impact on Belgian design.