Counting bodies, posting photos, despairing of British politics.
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Zwaarte Piet?
The Dutch fondness for caricature Negro figures is somewhat disturbing. I have no idea why this figurehead sits above a drugstore, of all places. Can anyone enlighten me?
It has something to do with these old figureheads (literally) being models for apothecaries before the general population was literate. Thus, if you saw a doorway with a head like this prominently displayed above or beside it, you knew it was the business of a pharmacist or a dentist or something. I'm not making this up,I swear.
It has something to do with these old figureheads (literally) being models for apothecaries before the general population was literate. Thus, if you saw a doorway with a head like this prominently displayed above or beside it, you knew it was the business of a pharmacist or a dentist or something. I'm not making this up,I swear.
ReplyDeleteYou truly do learn something new every day!
ReplyDeleteAnd do not forget that the dutch were a colonizing power... I think at least
ReplyDelete