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Vaartkapoen

Vaartkapoen is a street sculpture by Belgian artist Tom Frantzen, installed in 1985 on Sainctelette Square in the Brussels district of Molenbeek-Saint-Jean. It depicts a rogue emerging from a canal and grabbing the leg of a life-size Brussels policeman. The policeman represents Agent 15 from Hergé’s comic series Quick and Flupke. The sculpture was inspired by other figures such as Manneken Pis and Jeanneke Pis, as well as Frantzen’s own works, including Zinneke Pis and Madame Chapeau.

Vaartkapoen bronze sculpture showing a policeman being grabbed by a figure emerging from a manhole.
Vaartkapoen, the bronze sculpture by Tom Frantzen, shown on a city sidewalk in Brussels.
June 2013 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Vaartkapoen bronze sculpture showing a uniformed policeman falling as a figure emerges from an open manhole and grabs the cover.
Vaartkapoen, a bronze sculpture depicting a policeman being startled from an open manhole in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean.
August 2017 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Vaartkapoen bronze sculpture showing a man emerging from a manhole and grabbing a startled policeman\'s ankle.
The Vaartkapoen sculpture in Brussels depicts a man from a manhole tripping a startled policeman.
February 2006 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Vaartkapoen bronze statue showing a helmeted figure falling backward as another emerges from a manhole to grab their leg.
Vaartkapoen in Brussels, depicting a helmeted figure being pulled backward by someone emerging from a manhole.
© · CC BY 2.0
Vaartkapoen sculpture showing a bronze man in a helmet being pulled backward into a hole in the pavement.
Vaartkapoen, with a bronze figure caught as another hand reaches up from the pavement.
May 2021 © · CC BY 4.0

Identification

TitleLe Vaartkapoen
TypeStreet sculpture

Creator

ArtistTom Frantzen
Artist nationalityBelgian

Historical context

Year installed1985

Location and ownership

LocationPlace Sainctelette, Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, Brussels, Belgium

Physical characteristics

Depicted figuresA Brussels policeman and a "canal rascal" emerging from a sewer
Depicted actionThe canal rascal is grabbing the policeman's leg
Police figure representationAgent No. 15 from the comic series Quick and Flupke by Hergé

Iconography and meaning

Artist's intended meaningThe youth shaking authority
InspirationInspired by Manneken Pis, Jeanneke Pis, and Tom Frantzen's other sculptures such as Zinneke Pis and Madame Chapeau
Associated city symbolManneken Pis is identified in the text as Brussels's main symbol