Luilekkerland / Pays de cocagne 1800 - 1833

This color print titled "Luilekkerland / Pays de cocagne" was created by Philippus Jacobus Brepols, a Flemish artist, in the early 19th century. It depicts a series of vignettes illustrating a fantastical land of plenty, a topsy-turvy world where gluttony reigns. Brepols made this work during a time of significant social upheaval in Europe, as traditional hierarchies were being questioned. The imagery reflects both desire and anxiety around social mobility and economic change. In these scenes, the land provides without labor, reflecting a longing for a world free from scarcity, yet also satirizing the potential for excess and moral decay. The characters here, rendered in simple lines, seem caught between delight and absurdity. Consider the historical context in which Brepols created this work, and what it suggests about the values of the time. Are these scenes a vision of utopian possibility, or a cautionary tale about the pitfalls of unchecked desire?