Khnopff & Bruges

Some time ago I promised Petrus Plancius to post some scans of Khnopff’s photos of Bruges, the ones on which he based his famous drawings of the city.

As usual, memory deceived me.

Finally being able to look into the matter again, I must say that he based his drawing on the photos taken by Rodenbach for Bruges a la mort, as well as on simple post cards. But it does seem to be the case that he avoided physical return to the city after moving to Brussels at age 7. He told one of his biographers that he was sure the place was quite spoiled. I know precisely what he means. I am appalled when I go into the Downtown famous-Barr store here now: it is completely spoiled (they even call it a Macy’s). But the truth is, if I went back in a time machine to 1968, the store I would see that way would seem spoiled and ruined compared to the one I carry in my memory. Strange what we form attachments to.

Behind the cut are some illustrative scans.




( Bruges )

Any Old Iron

I would never have developed any interest on this subject, except that I was recently put in the position of having to write an encyclopedia article about it.

If you are interested in reading the rant that could not be included in the article, see further: ( Here )