De verknipte kleêren 1876 - 1890

This lithograph entitled "De verknipte kleêren" by Michelet presents a sequence of scenes that unfold in a grid-like structure, reminiscent of early comic strips. The subdued color palette lends a certain formality, while the stark lines delineate the various actions and figures. The composition is neatly segmented into twelve rectangular frames, each a window into a moment of domestic drama. We see figures repeated across panels, their gestures captured in mid-motion, conveying a sense of narrative progression. The artist employs a semiotic system, where clothing takes center stage, acting as a signifier of status and the focal point of conflict. The act of cutting clothing, repeated throughout, emerges as a transgressive act, destabilizing established meanings of domesticity. Ultimately, the rigid structure and the recurrent motif of disrupted garments work together to reflect on the shifting dynamics of marital relations within the confines of domestic space. The artwork invites us to contemplate the cultural codes embedded in everyday objects, and how these codes can be challenged and renegotiated.