Natie de stoeffer / Ignance le fanfaron 1833 - 1911

Editor: So, this is "Natie de stoeffer / Ignance le fanfaron," a lithograph from somewhere between 1833 and 1911 by Brepols & Dierckx zoon, currently at the Rijksmuseum. It gives me the impression of a satirical cartoon. What stands out to you? Curator: I see a potent commentary on the societal values and power dynamics of its time. Given the rise of lithography in the 19th century, this print becomes a widely accessible form of social critique. What narratives do the individual panels seem to be telling, and what repeated imagery do you notice? Editor: There are scenes with animals interacting with people. Are those metaphorical? Curator: Precisely. Consider how animals were frequently used to represent human characteristics. This juxtaposition allows for biting social commentary, highlighting perhaps the "beastly" or flawed nature of human behavior. Given that this piece falls within a period marked by strict social hierarchies, one can imagine how each character embodies a different element of that social order. Who has power and who doesn't? Editor: That's very interesting. So the animals and caricatures are part of a coded visual language reflecting class and behavior? Curator: Exactly. These images serve as accessible critiques that challenged conventional authority in a subversive manner. How does the idea of accessibility play into understanding folk art in the 19th Century? Editor: I suppose mass production makes a difference to its political force, if common people have access to a view that may challenge the authority. Curator: Absolutely. Editor: Thanks, I didn't expect that this image had such background to be read. Curator: Indeed, it’s about looking beyond the surface and uncovering the layers of meaning embedded in the image, its context and dissemination, and questioning the values it reflects and reinforces.