Communiecantje

130x150cm  oil on canvas  2004

The inspiration for this painting was an incident from my early childhood (in the 1950s). My brother and I sometimes went to church before school. On one occasion he was apparently dreaming or even falling asleep so much that he did not notice that the priest who distributed communion was already on his way back. But when my brother had his eyes open, he rushed to the communion rail (as it used to be). However the priest did not see him and returned to the altar where he stood with his back to the people (also at that time). The boy remaind kneeling in place for awhile, apparently hoping that things would turn out okay. But in vain.