Provincials (1966) Loeki Metz

photo Otto Snoek
About the artwork

Provincials is a bronze sculpture of two girls, arm in arm, made by Loeki Metz. They have almost the same facial expression, closed eyes and a prudish look around the mouth. The girls are wrapped in thick, elegant layers of textile and appear to be dancing with both right legs placed forward. The statue stands on a concrete slab, which serves as a base. The statue was provisionally set up in July 1966 in front of the Doelen on the side of the Karel Doormanstraat. These 'Shopping Girls' - also called those over time 'De Weesmeisjes' are called - at the request of the district council for Pendrecht in August 1967, they were given their current place in front of the shopping center on Plein 1953.

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About the artist

Louise Estelle Julie, or Loeki Metz (Amsterdam, 1918 - Rotterdam, 2004) was a sculptor and medalist. She mainly worked with bronze, wood and silver and made project art and idea art. Her style was impressionistic and figurative. She was friends with Mari Andriessen and spent a long time in Amsterdam, The Hague, Paris and Rotterdam. Her education was at the Rijksacademie in Amsterdam. Metz is best known for its reliefs and tokens.

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