Manneken Pis

This article is about the Brussels landmark. For the 1995 film, see Manneken Pis (film).

Manneken Pis
Map
Location within Brussels
ArtistJérôme Duquesnoy the Elder
Year
  • 1619 (1619): original version
  • 1965 (1965): existing version
TypeBronze
SubjectPuer mingens
Dimensions55.5 cm (21.9 in)
LocationCity of Brussels, Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium
Coordinates50°50′42″N 4°21′00″E / 50.8449861°N 4.3499932°E / 50.8449861; 4.3499932
WebsiteOfficial website

Manneken Pis (pronounced [ˌmɑnəkə(m) ˈpɪs] ⓘ; Dutch for 'Little Pissing Man') is a landmark[1] 55.5 cm (21.9 in)[a] bronze fountain sculpture in central Brussels, Belgium, depicting a puer mingens; a naked little boy urinating into the fountain's basin. Though its existence is attested as early as the mid-15th century,[2] Manneken Pis was redesigned by the Brabantine sculptor Jérôme Duquesnoy the Elder and put in place in 1619.[3][4][5] Its stone niche in rocaille style dates from 1770.[6][4] The statue has been repeatedly stolen or damaged throughout its history. Since 1965, a replica has been displayed,[7] with the original stored in the Brussels City Museum.[4][8]

Manneken Pis is one of the best-known symbols of Brussels and Belgium, inspiring several legends, as well as numerous imitations and similar statues both nationally and abroad.[9][10] The figure is regularly dressed up and its wardrobe consists of around one thousand different costumes. Since 2017, they have been exhibited in a dedicated museum called GardeRobe MannekenPis.[11][12] Owing to its self-derisive nature, Manneken Pis is also an example of belgitude (French; lit. 'Belgianness'),[13] as well as of folk humour (zwanze) popular in Brussels.[14][15]

Manneken Pis is approximately five minutes' walk from the Grand-Place/Grote Markt (Brussels' main square), at the junction of the Rue du Chêne/Eikstraat and the pedestrian Rue de l'Étuve/Stoofstraat.[5] This site is served by the premetro (underground tram) station Bourse/Beurs (on lines 3 and 4), as well as the bus stop Grand-Place/Grote Markt (on lines 33, 48 and 95).[16][17][18]

  1. ^ "Brussels Landmarks and Monuments: Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium". www.world-guides.com. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  2. ^ Deligne 2008.
  3. ^ Miller 1998.
  4. ^ a b c De Roose 1999, p. 20–23.
  5. ^ a b De Vries 2003, p. 51–54.
  6. ^ Des Marez 1918, p. 144.
  7. ^ Willsher, Kim (6 August 2015). "Fake pisstake? Scientists re-examine Belgium's celebrated Manneken Pis". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  8. ^ Couvreur, Deknop & Symons 2005, p. 26.
  9. ^ Couvreur, Deknop & Symons 2005.
  10. ^ Emerson 2015.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ Bainbrigge, Susan (2009). Culture and identity in Belgian francophone writing: dialogue, diversity and displacement. Peter Lang. ISBN 978-3-03-911382-8.
  14. ^ State 2004, p. 356.
  15. ^ "ZWANZE: Définition de ZWANZE". www.cnrtl.fr (in French). Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  16. ^ "Ligne 33 vers DANSAERT - stib.be". www.stib-mivb.be. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  17. ^ "Ligne 48 vers ANNEESSENS - stib.be". www.stib-mivb.be. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  18. ^ "Ligne 95 vers GRAND-PLACE - stib.be". www.stib-mivb.be. Retrieved 23 July 2023.


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