Marcel Lecomte
Encyclopedia
Marcel Lecomte was a Belgian writer
, member of the Belgian surrealist movement. In 1918 he was introduced to dadaism and Eastern philosophy
by Clément Pansaers
. He also started to study literature and philosophy
at the Université Libre de Bruxelles
that year, but he left the studies in 1920. Between 1934 and 1945 he was a teacher at a secondary school, since then he was able to make a living by writing (especially to newspapers); from 1958 he also worked as a counsellor for the Brussels´ Museum of Art.
In 1924 he founded a group named Correspondence with Paul Nougé
and Camille Goemans from which he was excommunicated the following year; however, they became close again thanks to common interest in surrealism. Yet he was not a strict surrealist, being more interestered in the metaphysics
of the dailiness.
-ish way – reads reality as a net of mysterious signs as surrealists do, he (unlike the author of Nadja
) doesn't look for an apparition of unknown essence or decisive, world-changing (and radically new) truth behind it. The illusion of hidden finality which voids the facts of their substance for the benefit of eternal future revelation of their true meaning is a trap into which Lecomte did not let himself be lured. All the significance of disturbing signals his exacerbated receptivness caught from a look from an unknown woman, from the genius loci
of certain places or simply the silhouettes of the passers-by, all that becomes one with the intensive experience, it completes itself in situ
and at that actual moment. This significance is further enriched only by comments and thoughts by the poet. The miracle is not about escaping our closeness in time, but in a paradoxical opening of the freedom's space within a moment and in grasping this space."
(Petr Král
, 1996, in afterword to Marble tastes best when cold, an anthology of Belgian surrealism, page 205. Used by permission of P. Král.)
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, member of the Belgian surrealist movement. In 1918 he was introduced to dadaism and Eastern philosophy
Eastern philosophy
Eastern philosophy includes the various philosophies of Asia, including Chinese philosophy, Iranian philosophy, Japanese philosophy, Indian philosophy and Korean philosophy...
by Clément Pansaers
Clement Pansaers
Clément Pansaers was the main proponent of the Dada movement in Belgium.He began writing poetry in 1916 after abandoning his career as an Egyptologist...
. He also started to study literature and philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
at the Université Libre de Bruxelles
Université Libre de Bruxelles
The Université libre de Bruxelles is a French-speaking university in Brussels, Belgium. It has 21,000 students, 29% of whom come from abroad, and an equally cosmopolitan staff.-Name:...
that year, but he left the studies in 1920. Between 1934 and 1945 he was a teacher at a secondary school, since then he was able to make a living by writing (especially to newspapers); from 1958 he also worked as a counsellor for the Brussels´ Museum of Art.
In 1924 he founded a group named Correspondence with Paul Nougé
Paul Nougé
Paul Nougé was a Belgian poet, philosopher and surrealist photographer who heavily influenced the Belgian Surrealist School of which he was a member....
and Camille Goemans from which he was excommunicated the following year; however, they became close again thanks to common interest in surrealism. Yet he was not a strict surrealist, being more interestered in the metaphysics
Metaphysics
Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy concerned with explaining the fundamental nature of being and the world, although the term is not easily defined. Traditionally, metaphysics attempts to answer two basic questions in the broadest possible terms:...
of the dailiness.
About Lecomte
"Even though Lecomte – in a seemingly BretonAndré Breton
André Breton was a French writer and poet. He is known best as the founder of Surrealism. His writings include the first Surrealist Manifesto of 1924, in which he defined surrealism as "pure psychic automatism"....
-ish way – reads reality as a net of mysterious signs as surrealists do, he (unlike the author of Nadja
Nadja
Nadja may refer to:* Nadja , 1928 surrealist novel by André Breton* Nadja , 1994 vampire film by Michael Almereyda* Nadja , Canadian drone doom metal side project of Aidan Baker* Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, violinist...
) doesn't look for an apparition of unknown essence or decisive, world-changing (and radically new) truth behind it. The illusion of hidden finality which voids the facts of their substance for the benefit of eternal future revelation of their true meaning is a trap into which Lecomte did not let himself be lured. All the significance of disturbing signals his exacerbated receptivness caught from a look from an unknown woman, from the genius loci
Genius loci
In classical Roman religion a genius loci was the protective spirit of a place. It was often depicted in religious iconography as a figure holding a Cornucopia, patera and/or a snake. There are many Roman altars found in Western Europe dedicated in whole or in part to the particular Genius Loci...
of certain places or simply the silhouettes of the passers-by, all that becomes one with the intensive experience, it completes itself in situ
In situ
In situ is a Latin phrase which translated literally as 'In position'. It is used in many different contexts.-Aerospace:In the aerospace industry, equipment on board aircraft must be tested in situ, or in place, to confirm everything functions properly as a system. Individually, each piece may...
and at that actual moment. This significance is further enriched only by comments and thoughts by the poet. The miracle is not about escaping our closeness in time, but in a paradoxical opening of the freedom's space within a moment and in grasping this space."
(Petr Král
Petr Král
Petr Král is a Czech writer. Having graduated from FAMU, he worked as an editor in the Orbis publishing house, where he focused on a line of books about film and film-makers. In 1968, he emigrated to France where he worked in a gallery, a photo shop, as a teacher, interpreter, translator,...
, 1996, in afterword to Marble tastes best when cold, an anthology of Belgian surrealism, page 205. Used by permission of P. Král.)