Laat ons dat incroijable leven, / Een schets van 's menschen dwaasheid, geven 1833 - 1900

This print, “Laat ons dat incroijable leven, / Een schets van 's menschen dwaasheid, geven,” was created by Glenisson & Zonen to depict scenes of human folly. Note the repeated motif of characters pointing, a gesture laden with meaning. In one scene, a man raises a stick at his dog. In another, a woman points accusingly at a man with a dog. This seemingly simple act echoes through art history. Think of John the Baptist pointing to the Lamb of God, or ancient philosophers gesticulating during discourse. The gesture has evolved, from indicating divine presence to highlighting human error. It becomes a tool for blame, for social correction. The enduring appeal of these scenes lies in their reflection of our own follies. We recognize the absurdity of our actions, mirrored in these figures. The act of pointing, then, taps into our collective memory of judgment and self-awareness. It is a stark reminder of our own imperfect natures, cycling back through time.