Man met ezelskop overhandigt buigende man een diploma 1880 - 1890

This print by Salomon Oppenheim presents a diploma being handed from a man with the head of a donkey to a bowing man, a potent symbol laden with cultural significance. The donkey-headed figure evokes images of ignorance and folly, a motif traceable to antiquity, seen in classical satires and medieval morality plays. Here, bestowing a diploma, this figure upends conventional wisdom. The bestowing of the diploma is in itself significant, reminiscent of ancient laurel wreaths conferred upon victors and scholars. The act suggests a twisted form of recognition, where foolishness is rewarded, reflecting a topsy-turvy world. This symbolic inversion reveals a deeper truth about the human condition—our capacity for irrationality and the often blurred line between wisdom and absurdity. Such an image is a powerful force, engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. We find this symbolic image has resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings in different historical contexts.