17th century Flemish and Dutch paintings

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Jacques Brel
Belgian singer, songwriter, actor and director
Brussels (Schaerbeek) 1929 – 1978 Paris (Bobigny) 

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Painting for Sale
About our painting
 
This is an excellent example of Belgian humour circa 1900. Our painting represents a war hero of the Belgian Revolution: in 1830 present-day Belgium got independant from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, which had been created only fifteen years earlier.
 
The hero, stralling with his severe aunt, arouses great interest from some young women.
 
It makes me think of James Ensor, of René Magritte and of Jacques Brel.
 
The original text of “Bruxelles”, a song of Jacques Brel of 1962
 
C'était au temps où Bruxelles rêvait
C'était au temps du cinéma muet
C'était au temps où Bruxelles chantait
 
C'était au temps où Bruxelles bruxellait
 
Place de Brouckère on voyait des vitrines
Avec des hommes des femmes en crinoline
Place de Brouckère on voyait l'omnibus
Avec des femmes des messieurs en gibus
Et sur l'impériale
Le cœur dans les étoiles
Il y avait mon grand-père
Il y avait ma grand-mère
Il était militaire
Elle était fonctionnaire
Il pensait pas elle pensait rien
Et on voudrait que je sois malin
 
C'était au temps où Bruxelles chantait
C'était au temps du cinéma muet
C'était au temps où Bruxelles rêvait
C'était au temps où Bruxelles bruxellait
 
Sur les pavés de la place Sainte-Catherine
Dansaient les hommes les femmes en crinoline
Sur les pavés dansaient les omnibus
Avec des femmes des messieurs en gibus
Et sur l'impériale
Le cœur dans les étoiles
Il y avait mon grand-père
Il y avait ma grand-mère
Il avait su y faire
Elle l'avait laissé faire
Ils l'avaient donc fait tous les deux
Et on voudrait que je sois sérieux
 
C'était au temps où Bruxelles rêvait
C'était au temps du cinéma muet
C'était au temps où Bruxelles dansait
C'était au temps où Bruxelles bruxellait
 
Sous les lampions de la place Sainte-Justine
Chantaient les hommes les femmes en crinoline
Sous les lampions dansaient les omnibus
Avec des femmes des messieurs en gibus
Et sur l'impériale
Le cœur dans les étoiles
Il y avait mon grand-père
Il y avait ma grand-mère
Il attendait la guerre
Elle attendait mon père
Ils étaient gais comme le canal
Et on voudrait que j'aie le moral
 
C'était au temps où Bruxelles rêvait
C'était au temps du cinéma muet
C'était au temps où Bruxelles chantait
C'était au temps où Bruxelles bruxellait
 
English translation of “Bruxelles”
 
It was at the time when Brussels would dream
It was at the time of silent films
It was at the time when Brussels would sing
It was at the time when Brussels would "brussel"
 
At place de Broukere you could see shop windows
With men and women wearing crinolines
At place de Broukere you could see the omnibus [local train]
With men and women wearing opera hats
And on the Imperial square
With their hearts in the stars
There was my grand-father
There was my grand-mother
He was soldier
She was civil servant
He didn't think, she didn't think of anything
Yet I'm expected to be smart!
 
It was at the time when Brussels would dream
It was at the time of silent films
It was at the time when Brussels would sing
It was at the time when Brussels would "brussel"
 
On the slabs at Sainte-Catherine square
Men and women wearing crinolines would dance
On the slabs the omnibuses would dance
With men and women wearing opera hats
And on the Imperial square
With their hearts in the stars
There was my grand-father
There was my grand-mother
He'd been able to make do
She'd let him do it
So they both did it
Yet I'm expected to be serious!
 
It was at the time when Brussels would dream
It was at the time of silent films
It was at the time when Brussels would sing
It was at the time when Brussels would "brussel"
 
Under Sainte-Justine square's paper lanterns
Men and women wearing crinolines would sing
Under the paper lanterns the omnibuses would dance
With men and women wearing opera hats
And on the Imperial square
With their hearts in the stars
There was my grand-father
There was my grand-mother
He was expecting the war
She was expecting my father
They were as joyful as the canal
Yet I'm expected not to feel down!
 
It was at the time when Brussels would dream
It was at the time of silent films
It was at the time when Brussels would sing
It was at the time when Brussels would "brussel"
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