Charles Buls memorial, Relief sculpture near Grand Place, Brussels, Belgium.
The Charles Buls memorial is a relief sculpture near the Brussels Grand Place, featuring a stone plinth with two central figures representing a teacher and student. Victor Rousseau created this work to depict the importance of education and knowledge transmission.
Charles Buls served as mayor from 1881 to 1899 and ensured the protection of Grand Place facades. During his tenure, he also oversaw the reconstruction of the Star building, which improved the appearance of this central square.
The memorial displays inscriptions in French and Flemish, representing the bilingual identity that Buls championed in his work. These texts show how the city honors both language communities that share its streets and squares.
The memorial sits at an intersection of pedestrian paths through the historic center, making it easy to spot while exploring nearby landmarks. The busy location means you can visit it while walking between other attractions without extra detours.
The memorial resulted from collaboration between architect Victor Horta and sculptor Victor Rousseau, with funding from architects who worked on Grand Place restoration. This private support from the building trades shows how much the architectural community valued Buls' work in preserving the square.
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