The oeuvre of Jan Vercruysse can be reduced in principle to one central problem: what is the position of art in the world, and, in connection, what is the position of the artist? This question is a response to the cultural climate in which Vercruysse operated. He recognized that commerce in the art world led to superficial, speculative interpretations and hasty consumption of art. There was no space for depth and reflection. Vercruysse's austere, non-communicative art can be seen as an answer to this problem. His art is about the conditions of being a contemporary artist. Is meaningful art (still) possible?