Spotprent op de huurverhogingen door de Commune van Parijs, 1871 c. 1871

Leo Scherer made this print in 1871. It is a composition of vertical alignment with two figures acting out a drama in a domestic setting. The chaotic lines of the disgruntled homeowner contrast with the sharp, diagonal lines of the carefree tenant and create a sense of imbalance. This imbalance captures the tension and upheaval of the era, using line and form to represent the shifting social dynamics during the Paris Commune. The caricatured figures, drawn with exaggerated expressions, engage in a theatrical contrast. One figure waves a document, presumably a decree from the Commune, signaling a shift in power. The other is in disarray, his stance and open mouth create a sense of resistance. This juxtaposition destabilizes traditional notions of authority, suggesting a world turned upside down. The print does not offer a definitive resolution but instead serves as a site for ongoing interpretation, inviting us to consider the complex interplay between form, content, and historical context.