Zootnicks
(Zoot N.Y.C.)
Page Under Construction-
Will be an overview of Flemish contributions to United States history, in particular the contribution to the history of Manhattan which was originally New Amsterdam.
Although the main cultural influence in early New Amsterdam was Dutch, Flemish culture also was present. During the first half of the 1600s the Netherlands, Belgium, and Flanders were largely interchangeble terms.
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| New Amsterdam, aka New York, 1660 |
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| Island of Manhattan north of New Amsterdam, circa 1640 |
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| Contributions of the Dutch and Flemish to the United States include Baseball (Honkball), Jankees (Jan Kees or Johnny Cheese), Knickerbockers (Dutch short legged pants), the Bowerey in Manhattan (Bouerij-Farm), Wall Street (Waal Straat), both of the Roosevelt presidents (Rose Field), etc..
The phrase 'Yankee Doodle' is particularly 'Dutch/Flemish' because a 'Doodle' is also derived from the Germanic languages to mean 'ineffectual'. As such, the term 'Yankee Doodle Dandy' is a triple insult- a 'Cheese headed, worthless fop'- which is often how the British viewed the American Colonials. In typical American fasion, this triple diss was turned into a compliment.
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In addition to featuring Dutch/Flemish contributions to American Culture, this page will also show that Flemish Master Painter Pieter Bruegel's view of the world fits modern Manhattan quite well.
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| Peter Styvesant- The first 'Zootnick' |
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The display currently featured at the 'Fugezi Gallery' (as featured on the 'Fugezi' web page) is a comparison of Flanders' most famous Flemish renaissance painter, Pieter Bruegel the Elder, juxtaposed with photos of modern day Manhattan.
Amazingly, Bruegel's vision of the world 500 years ago is an excellent mirror of the modern metropolis.
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| Tower of Babel |
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| "If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere" (Big Fish eat Little Fish) |
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| Bruegel's works feature the working class as opposed to the aristocracy, juxtapose landscapes and civilization, emphasize landscapes as an end in themselves, and portray individuals and events of heroic stature.
The 'Bruegel Apple" display can be viewed by appointment by contacting "Zeelands@sbcglobal.net. The price per tour is $10.
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| Fall of Icarus |
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| Reaching to the Heavens |
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| The full spectrum of humanity |
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| Dutch Proverbs |
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| Mad Meg |
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| Times Square prior to Gentrification |
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| 9-11 |
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| Storm at Sea |
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| Winter Landscape with Bird Cage |
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| Central Park Oasis |
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| Madison Square Garden- Game Cornucopia |
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| Children's Games- with perspective point added. |
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| "Fall of the Rebel Angles" |
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| The Yankees triumph again |
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