René Magritte aka René François Ghislain Magritte (Belgian, 1898-1967, b. Lessines, Belgium) - Le Thérapeute (The Healer), 1962, Paintings: Gouache on Paper
Pieter Bruegel the Elder - The Magpie on the Gallows (1568)
“Bruegel’s painting was created the year after Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba, arrived in the Netherlands, sent by the Spanish king, Philip II to suppress the Dutch Revolt. The gallows may represent the threat of execution of those preaching the new Protestant doctrine, and the painting may allude to several Netherlandish proverbs. There is a direct allusion to the Netherlandish proverbs of dancing or shitting on the gallows, meaning a mocking of the state. It also alludes to the belief that magpies are gossips, and that gossip leads to hangings. And that the way to the gallows leads through pleasant meadows. It is not known why or for whom the picture was painted. Its date of 1568 makes this painting one of Bruegel’s last works before his death in 1569; indeed, perhaps his final work. Bruegel asked his wife to burn some of his pictures on his death, but told her to keep the Magpie on the Gallows for herself.”
Elise Vandevelde: If I want to believe that Maybelle is a star up in the sky, I will. If I want to believe she’s a bird that perches on our window sill, or a butterfly that sits on my shoulder or a bloody frog that…
Didier Bontinck: Maybelle is dead, sweetheart. She’s dead. She’s gone, she’s not here anymore.But we are still here. I’m still here. We have to carry on together.
The Broken Circle Breakdown, Felix Van Groeningen (2012)
Omnitonic Horn, ca. 1833 Charles-Joseph Sax (Brussels, Belgium, 1790-1865)
-Materials: Brass -Length: 65 cm -Other Notes: The inside of this bell is lacquered dark cherry-red with trophies and flowers in gold. These horns would either attach all the necessary crooks to the instrument individually or in a successive, compensating system. Manually engaging a switching system – a “tap” – allows the key changes. This horn’s system range allows it to play from B-flat Basso up to a B-flat Alto key.
