Along the canal, the famous Agent 15, from Hergé’s “Quick and Flupke” series, has his foot caught by a “vaartkapoen”—a canal rascal—who emerges from a manhole. This amusing statue is the work of Brussels sculptor Tom Frantzen and was installed in 1994.
Galerie photos
Nenea hartia, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Who is Agent 15?
Agent 15 is a police officer from the city of Brussels created by Hergé, who was inspired by characters from Charlie Chaplin films. He is named Agent 15 because of the police badge number visible on his uniform. In a story published in the Journal de Tintin on February 16, 1950, it is revealed that his last name is Vertommen. He can be both a victim, perpetrator, or accomplice in Quick and Flupke’s pranks.
Who is Tom Frantzen?
Tom Frantzen is a Belgian sculptor born on November 16, 1954, in Watermael-Boitsfort. He is known for his public sculptures such as Het Zinneke and Madame Chapeau, located in Brussels.
He studied at the École nationale supérieure des Arts visuels de La Cambre and built his own foundry in 1977. His style is described as “contemporary Flemish fantasy” and is characterized by humor, whimsy, and the integration of utilitarian and mechanical objects into his compositions. His works are often tinged with humor and perfectly integrated into their surroundings.
