Happy International Women’s Day!

by Ingrid Robeyns on March 8, 2012

Around 1996, when I had my first paid job in Leuven, and we were all still paying and being paid in francs, guldens, pesetas or deutschmark, I bought this wonderful piece of art from an emerging artist (she may actually still have been a student of art). As the picture shows, her name was Elke, and that’s all I remember, apart from the price (1.000 Belgian francs, which nowadays would be 25 Euros plus inflation). And I also recall that Elke was delighted that I bought her work. Elke, I hope you have made many more of these pieces of art, and that you allow me to reproduce this one here to celebrate International Women’s Day!

{ 11 comments }

1

Tedra Osell 03.08.12 at 5:29 pm

Love it!

2

J. Otto Pohl 03.08.12 at 6:57 pm

In Kyrgyzstan 8 March was a big holiday. Here in Ghana it seems to be almost completely unknown. Outside the former USSR the holiday does not seem to be celebrated much. In one part of the Russian Federation (Karbardino-Balkaria) it a day of great tragedy since Stalin decided to celebrate the holiday in 1944 by deporting almost all the Balkars including the women to Central Asia.

3

Antti Nannimus 03.09.12 at 1:12 am

Hi Sisters,

Bless all women everywhere (OK, most of them).
What would we do with you?
Not much.

Have a great year!
Antti

4

Antti Nannimus 03.09.12 at 1:13 am

Of course, I meant “without you”!

5

Antti Nannimus 03.09.12 at 2:03 am

Okay, I admit I’m not sure what I meant. But as usual, I know I’m in deep trouble again.

6

tomslee 03.09.12 at 2:06 am

This might be a good day to note that CT has got a lot more interesting since we’ve been seeing more posts by the women contributors. Thanks for putting in the time and effort.

7

Rich 03.10.12 at 6:40 pm

Does that woman on the right have three arms?

Apart from that, very nice, and good to support young artists.

8

Chingona 03.12.12 at 6:53 pm

Who’s the “young” artist?

9

Ingrid Robeyns 03.12.12 at 7:20 pm

Chingona: her name is Elke, I can’t recall her surname, and she was about 20-25 in 1996 when she made and sold me this piece (rough guess though, I am not good at guessing ages).

10

Chingona 03.13.12 at 5:07 pm

Thanks, Ingrid. I gathered as much from your post. I’m just wondering why it was assumed by Rich that she was a “young” artist, or that supporting artists was the point of this post. &c.

11

John Quiggin 03.15.12 at 9:46 am

I also loved it!

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