U Cop U Gnac

U Cop U Gnac , oil, 27x46cm.(15x23"). This is an expression in Occitain, the language originally spoken in the Pyrenees, before it was "France" or "Spain" on each side. "U cop u gnac" means a drink and a bite, probably something like our modern "happy hour". David, the Chef, and his wife own this restaurant in Cauterets, now the "French" Pyrenees, and he enjoys being in pictures with his white goat. I painted him in the corner of his corner restaurant. This painting was exhibited at the Library of Cauterets last year, and is now in David's home. U Cop U Gnac es una expresion en el idioma Occitain, que se hablaba originalmente en los Pirineos, antes que fueran "franceses" o "espanoles". U Cop U Gnac significa una copa y un bocado, quizas algo como la "happy hour" de hoy. David, el Chef, y su esposa son duenos de este restaurante en Cauterets, ahora en los Pirineos "franceses", y disfruta estar en fotos con su cabra blanca. Yo lo pinte en la esquina de su restaurante de la esquina. Esta pintura fue exhibida en la Biblioteca de Cauterets el ano pasado, y ahora esta en el hogar de David.

Occitain was the language and culture of a wide area of the Pyrenees, (now the South-West of France, and the North-East of Spain) where they lived in peace for hundreds of years, it was a matriarcal society. Then around the year 1100, the Christians came from the East, the French from the North, conquered the towns, killed men, women and children, burnt their houses and castles, and made this land "French and Christian" in a little over 100 years. So even though this happened 800 years ago, there is still some resentment about "the French" by those who consider themselves Occitains. There are street and restaurant signs, classes in school, and even rock bands in Occitain in this area. Occitain era el idioma y la cultura de una amplia zona de los Pirineos (ahora el Sudoeste de Francia y el Nordeste de Espana) donde la gente vivia en paz por cientos de anos, era una sociedad matriarcal. Pero alrededor del ano 1100, los Cristianos vinieron del Este, y los Franceses del Norte, conquistaron sus ciudades, mataron a sus hombres, mujeres y ninos, quemaron sus casa y castillos y transformaron las tierras en "Francesa y Cristiana" en apenas 100 anos. Aunque esto ocurrio hace unos 800 anos, todavia hay resentimiento acerca de los "franceses" por aquellos que se consideran Occitanos. Hay senalizacion, negocios y restaurantes, clases en escuelas, y hasta bandas de rock en Occitain in esta zona.