Ubu Roi 1894

Alfred Jarry made this print to accompany his play Ubu Roi. The work exemplifies the cultural and artistic milieu of France in the late 19th century, a period marked by upheaval and the questioning of established norms. Jarry’s play and the print were deliberately provocative. It featured grotesque characters and challenged conventional theatrical and artistic expectations. The image is full of visual codes which create meaning. Ubu, the large grotesque figure is the central figure, he’s a parody of authority, a critique of political corruption and abuses of power. The scene depicting a burning house perhaps references social unrest. To fully understand the work requires understanding not only the symbolist movement and the "avant-garde" in France, but also the history of censorship and theatrical innovation. Art historians need to consider the broader social, political, and cultural context in which Jarry was working to fully understand the impact of Ubu Roi.