Michel en Dominikus / De kleine dieven 1874 - 1888

This is a printed sheet titled ‘Michel en Dominikus / De kleine dieven’ or ‘Michel and Dominikus / The little thieves’, made by Olivier Pinot. The artist was working in an era when the printing press had become a powerful tool for mass communication. This sheet is made of paper, using a lithographic process to transfer each frame of the story onto the page, and then hand-colored. Its physical qualities give us clues about its social context: the paper is cheap and light, suggesting that this was a widely available and affordable form of entertainment. Looking closely, you can see how the artist used simple lines and bright colors to bring the characters to life. The narrative unfolds in a series of small scenes, each with its own little caption. It’s almost like a comic strip from the 19th century. By using the medium of print, Olivier Pinot was able to reach a large audience and share stories with people from all walks of life. This challenges the idea that art has to be precious or exclusive.