Enamelled stoneware culpture.

Height: 38.5 cm – Length: 16 cm – Depth: 18 cm 

History:

Arthur Craco developed a passion for representing animal subjects in ceramics. Driven by his personal concerns, his work quickly took a satirical turn – he was close to the Brussels zwanzeur circles (a form of mocking humor bordering on self-deprecation ). The artist thus positioned himself as a critic of society, condemning the ideals of the bourgeois milieu from which he himself came. He then represented the men of his time in ceramics by merging their features with those of animals – pursuing the idea that [man is close to the beast, his ideas are petty and self-serving].

Our sculpture depicting a pelican actually resembles, seen in profile, a caricatured portrait of Leopold II (1935-1909), King of the Belgians whose actions were strongly criticized – and whose physiognomy is recognizable by his imposing and characteristic beard. 

Bibliography:

 - Émile Dave – Grès d’art andennais, Folklore ancien et moderne ; Extrait de la revue « Le Guetteur Wallon » – No. 104-105 of March-April 1932. A pelican with the head of Leopold II in glazed pottery mentioned on page 8.

 - Chroniques de Watermael-Boitsfort, Bulletin de groupe : Histoire Sciences à Watermael-Boitsfort – Spécial Arthur Craco – No. 11 of March 1998 – A similar model reproduced on page 7.