Ostend and Jabbeke 2

The swanky era of Ensor. James Ensor never traded Ostend for Brussel of Parijs. Why not? Kurt Van Eeghem tells us when he takes us through the Koningin der Badsteden during the swanky Belle Époque. Every summer, the sleepy coastal town turned into a bustling melting pot. The promenade with its lush hotels and villas was the place to be for the elite to see and be seen. Luxurious trains and packet boats brought tourists from all corners of the world to our coast. Naast De Kursaal, a wonderful eclectic palace, the seaside resort had a Groot Symfonisch Orkest with 155 top musicians at the beginning of the twentieth century. World stars such as Caruso, Saint-Saëns, Strauss, and Casals performed in the immense Rotunda. For opera, theater, and ballet, you could go to the Koninklijke Schouwburg. Scholars and writers gave lectures, painters and sculptors showed the latest evolutions. The revue theaters were running at full speed, there were sports events, flower parades, fireworks, and processions. Auguste Escoffier created the ‘Sole Ostendaise’ in the kitchen of the ‘Royal Palace’, the most luxurious hotel on the Atlantic coast… Ostend in the Belle Époque is a city full of surprises. De Belle Époque (French for 'beautiful era') is a period in French and European history at the end of the 19th century to the beginning of the Eerste Wereldoorlog. During that Grote Oorlog, many began to regard the period before it as a golden age, characterized by general prosperity, an enormous development of the arts and sciences, and a high degree of social peace. Kurt Van Eeghem Kurt Van Eeghem is retired. But this is not his real status. He breathes culture. Known from radio and television, praised for his eloquence and courtesy. Constant Permeke (1886–1952) With his powerful, robust works that emphasize forms and a dark color palette, Permeke is seen as one of the most important representatives of Flemish expressionism. He initially trained as a sculptor but soon discovered his passion for painting. In 1912, he moved to the coast and began to develop his characteristic style. Inspired by the rough landscape of the Belgian coast and the hard life of the fishermen, Permeke created increasingly monumental paintings, imbued with emotion and a sense of primitivism. His works are often populated with massive figures and painted with broad brushstrokes in earthy, somber colors. As a result, his oeuvre shows deep compassion for humanity and reflects the social and human aspects of life. On the other hand, the use of heavy contour lines and simplified forms creates a sense of monumentality and eternity in Permeke's work. The cycle of life and death One of his best-known works is "De Zaaier", an imposing painting of a farmer sowing in a barren landscape. The work symbolizes the eternal cycle of life and death, and the power of human will to survive amidst harsh conditions.