De dieven en de ezel 1876 - 1890

Curator: This lithograph with watercolour illustration is titled "De dieven en de ezel," or "The Thieves and the Donkey" created between 1876 and 1890 by Hermann Vogel. It seems to be a fable illustration, full of vintage charm. What are your first thoughts? Editor: Utter chaos, darling! Two men, locked in some kind of absurd dance, all angular elbows and puffed-up resentment. The faded colours add a quirky timelessness, as if bad behavior is forever in vogue. Curator: Indeed! Look at how Vogel uses line – the exaggerated gestures and expressions, the simplified forms. It’s all very direct. The colour palette is quite restrained and creates aged feel; mostly pale yellows, blues, and reds. Editor: Yes, I see that! It’s almost faded into nostalgia. There's an appealing quality to the roughness of it. Notice the open space that gives prominence to the figures at center stage, like characters caught in theatre. I imagine them with slightly exaggerated voices too! Curator: Note how the composition cleverly guides the viewer's eye through the narrative sequence, from the immediate conflict to the rider hastily making his getaway in the distance, encapsulating a sense of urgency. Editor: They are beautifully arranged on the surface of aged paper to maximize both narrative impact and artistic design. I want to write my own fable about feuding squirrels now! This has definitely activated my imagination! Curator: Its charm lies in that effective narrative communication and formal rendering—all work toward clarity. Vogel really allows the lithograph to serve the overall aesthetic project. Editor: I agree completely. I was captivated and delighted by this work and how a simple visual narrative continues to provoke rich reflections about avarice. Curator: Yes, it provides such a lesson about the self and society. Editor: Well, I think I’m off to pen that tale of villainous squirrels…