Vignet til J. H. Wessels "Samtlige skrifter" 1787

Georg Christian Schule created this print, Vignet til J. H. Wessels "Samtlige skrifter", as a frontispiece for a collection of writings. The print shows a scene of social exclusion. We see men being forced, perhaps unjustly, into a 'Daarekiste,' a box for fools. Made in Denmark, likely in the late 18th or early 19th century, the work engages with period anxieties about social order and the Enlightenment's emphasis on reason. The image employs visual codes to depict the social hierarchy. Those doing the forcing are dressed in the garb of order, while those being forced look to be innocent of any crime deserving of this punishment. Is this perhaps a statement on social justice? To fully appreciate this print, we must consider the institutional history of art and literature in Denmark. The writings of Wessels may provide insight into Schule's illustration. Historical documents, literary analysis, and social histories can reveal more about this scene of injustice. The meaning of art is contingent on its social and institutional context, and as art historians, we aim to uncover these layers of meaning.