This PhD examines the artistic and institutional interplay between the Belgian and Italian art scene of the late 1980s and 1990s, through the lens of Belgian artist Jan Vercruysse (1948-2018). Steeped in archival research, this doctoral project examines Vercruysse's relationship with Italy, focusing on two aspects: the intellectual influence of Italian art, philosophy and literature on his oeuvre, and the network of artistic, critical and commercial relations in Italy that the artist developed during his career.