Street theatre

The artist

Serafijn Vermote was born in Moorsele on 24 April 1788, the son of a weaver. He was able to study at the Academy of Kortrijk thanks to his employer Jacques Goethals-Vercruyssen, who recognised the young Vermote's talent. He later took lessons in Bruges, Paris and Ypres. He is best known for his many cityscapes, although he also painted portraits and religious scenes. His hundreds of Views of Flanders are by far his best known works. He drew them between 1812 and 1815 on commission from Joseph van Huerne. In 1816, he was commissioned by Charles Carton de Winnezele to decorate the castle 't Hooghe in Zillebeke. In 1832, he became a teacher at the Academy in Kortrijk. He continued to live there until his death in 1837.

Fair in Ypres

The Ypres Museum has two works by Serafijn Vermote. These are two fair scenes: “Fair on the Grote Markt” and “Fair on the Leet”. Both works date from 1829 and therefore belong together. In those days, there was a fair on both the Leet and the Grote Markt.

Although the title refers to the scenes in the foreground, it is the buildings that attract the attention. The famous monuments of Ypres are beautifully depicted. St. Martin's Cathedral, the Cloth Hall and the Grote Markt are magnificent. In the foreground, the fairground scenes and everyday life provide the necessary liveliness. You can see countless details. A barrel organ is playing on the Grote Markt. You can buy books from a cart or visit a cabinet of curiosities. There is even a precursor to the modern Ferris wheel!

On the Leet, monkeys perform acrobatic tricks on a cart. Among the spectators, we see distinguished gentlemen in top hats and ladies in beautiful dresses. But the ordinary working class is also out and about. Children enjoy the spectacle.

The fair in the 19th century

The fair and (street) theatre date back to medieval traditions of church processions and annual markets. Processions are festive events with food, drink and entertainment. During the procession, the life of the saint is often depicted. This later developed into theatre. At annual markets, too, when traders gather to buy and sell, the necessary entertainment is provided.

In the 19th century, the fair developed into an independent festival. Permanent shops appeared in villages and towns, making the fair less necessary for traders. The emphasis shifted more towards entertainment. In the painting, we recognise some activities that are still considered typical fairground attractions today. The Ferris wheel and a haunted house can still be found at fairs today. But theatre performances, circuses, cinemas and zoos all have their origins in the old fairground tradition.

Acrobatic monkeys

The scene on the Leet is less familiar. On a covered wagon, a few monkeys attract attention with breakneck stunts. From the 18th century onwards, more and more exotic animals appeared at fairs. Zoos later emerged from these travelling initiatives. For many people, the fair was their first encounter with exotic animals.

The Dutch picture book from 1848, “Wat is er op de kermis te zien?” (What can you see at the fair?), tells of wax figures, magicians, jugglers, tightrope walkers and... monkeys. The text does not paint a positive picture of life as an acrobatic monkey.

And those nice little monkeys there

Sit sadly together;

They are neatly dressed

And beautifully decorated with ribbons,

I think they are in their colourful costumes

Not very comfortable,

They would, to all appearances,

Prefer to be somewhere else.

Beatings and hunger are bitter:

The monkeys see every cure

As beatings and hunger forcing them

Exercising, dancing, jumping,

Rattling, riding on the poodle,

Drumming, fighting with sabres:

Everything, everything is gladly learned

Through hunger and beatings.

Initially, little attention was paid to animal welfare. However, voices in favour of animal welfare began to be heard as early as the 19th century. In Belgium, it was not until 1929 that the first law was passed. Today, the general animal welfare law of 1986 is in force. Since 2014, there has been a general ban on wild animals in circuses. No more monkeys performing acrobatic tricks.