Schijn bedriegt 1894 - 1959

Editor: Here we have "Schijn bedriegt" – a print from between 1894 and 1959 by Gordinne. It has the look of a sort of antique comic strip. What a curious piece! The scenes all appear to depict mischievous happenings and general foolery. What do you make of it? Curator: Oh, what a delightful little pandemonium! For me, this print bubbles with a playful spirit, and yes, something sharper. See how Gordinne embraces the art of sequential storytelling, offering a narrative through twelve separate images, rather like visual verses. Don't you think that each miniature scene contains its own unique flavor? It really invites us to weave our own narratives! Editor: It definitely does. I love how some of the characters appear in multiple panels, implying a continuous story, despite the vignettes. Is there a cultural or historical aspect that maybe I'm missing? Curator: Absolutely! This falls smack-dab into the tradition of satirical prints and comic art of its era, doesn't it? Note how the recurring characters and comedic violence might touch upon popular figures and imperial themes prevalent in its historical period. Do the settings look colonial to you? Editor: Oh, now that you mention it, I do notice some colonial elements represented here. Also the ‘violence’ looks…performative, more funny than scary? Curator: Exactly! And that performative aspect, to me, almost begs to be understood within an understanding of theatrical comedic tropes… and the world Gordinne lived in, of course. In any event, I do love art that gets under my skin! Editor: Definitely food for thought. So the print has several layers – on one hand, humor; and on the other hand, some serious colonial and theatrical references that open up very interesting ways of looking at it. Thank you.