Inspired by Johan Barthold Jongkind (1819-1891) – Street in a dutch village – Black stone / Watercolour – 5,39 x 6,81 inch – SOLD

It is so peaceful in the small town of Zaanse Schans. The inhabitants have lived together for generations. Nothing ever moves. Only the wings of the mill turning endlessly to the wind.I believe that there are many neighbourhood quarrels like this old man in the navy-blue frock-coat who enjoys caning young children getting too close. He also has this unfortunate habit of walking on the side of the road and crossing whenever he likes, exclusively when a car approaches, and deliberately taking as much time as possible to reach the pavement across the street. Sometimes he even insults his neighbours on the street in a strong and high tone.

There’s also that fat lady who always wears a sky-blue apron and leaves her children to hang around. They are half clean and drag on the ground or stand at the gable of the house that shelters them. Oh, it’s just a small room with a bad smell and outhouse. And they cry, and they scream. They don’t know how to behave like human beings. It’s not their fault, they were born like that, I guess.

And there’s also the woman popularly referred to as a caretaker, spending her days at the window, feasting upon gossips running with the old grouchy. Someone getting back home completely drunk the night before, celebrating his bachelor party. Another one cheating on her husband with the baker. Usually joining him in the back shop at 3 am and believing that it is going totally unnoticed. In fact, all Zaanse Schans is well aware of what has been going on for over 3 years now. Everyone except the deceived obviously. An extremely kind man on the road the whole week working on building sites.

Lastly, Mister Handsome not only hot, but wealthy and smart, and a single man. A cloud of young girls surrounds him every day. And bla bl bla, and bla bla bla. And they coo and they blush and … so foolish. But how do we make them understand that Mister Handsome is in love with another guy.

It is so peaceful in the small town of Zaanse Schans. The inhabitants have lived together for generations. Nothing ever moves. Only the wings of the mill turning endlessly to the wind.