Constantin Meunier

Constantin Meunier (1831–1905) was a Belgian painter and sculptor who became a leading figure in European Social Realism. He is best known for elevating the image of the industrial worker—including miners, dockers, and factory labourers—to icons of modernity.

Initially trained as a sculptor, Meunier turned almost exclusively to painting between 1857 and 1884 to more directly portray social issues.

In 1882, a government-sponsored trip to Spain led him to briefly focus on religious subjects.

Returning to Belgium in 1885, he experienced what he called a "second life," returning to sculpture with a renewed focus on the industrial landscape and the dignity of manual labour.