Statue of Rik Viool

This statue depicts the market singer Rik Viool, from the district 'de Grecht' and active in the first decades of the last century. The sculpture is by sculptor Roland Rens and dates from 1993. Rik was a market singer and known as an accordionist at weddings and pleasure trips. He was not very gifted as a vocalist: his voice sounded hoarse and was at times almost unintelligible. That is why he performed together with singer Piet Vandermaelen. Pete was a retired priest and was called "Father Cent" by everyone. Because Piet had studied – a rarity in the market singer profession – his lyrics were technically better than those of other market singers.

This small sculpture evokes a picturesque aspect of the working-class neighbourhood 'De Grecht' as if it were always cheerful. However, the truth is different. Rik Viool is also a symbol of an insecure work situation. At best, craftsmen who worked for a pattern lived here, such as shoemakers, tailors and knife makers. They worked from Tuesday to Sunday afternoon because they needed Monday to recuperate from a 'festive' Sunday evening.

Aarschot was known for its shoes. The cobblers were paid per finished pair. The leather and lining were given to the patron, but he had to take care of nails, pinnekens and pitch wire himself. Around 1900, the shoemaker earned 1.5 to 1.75 francs per pair of finished shoes. Sturdy workman's shoes were sold in the shops for 8 to 9.5 francs. Tanners were paid 2 francs for a 12-hour working day in filthy conditions. As an extra, they were given the tail, nose and ears of the cattle and the meat that stuck to the skins. The meat was distributed among the guests on Saturday and prepared by the women in the evening for Sundays.

Those who did not know the craft were day laborers or lived on ambiguous professions such as bird catchers, eel fishermen, line fishermen, honeynut seekers, mole catchers, beggars ... They lived in the most modest shacks.
 

Jan Rymenams