Nieuw colombine spel of pantalon vervolger / Le nouveau jeu de colombine 1822 - 1837

Jacob Plügger's "Nieuw colombine spel of pantalon vervolger / Le nouveau jeu de colombine" is rendered with ink on paper. The artwork strikes one immediately with its intricate, grid-like structure, dividing the surface into a series of narrative vignettes reminiscent of a board game. This arrangement creates a visual system, almost like a semiotic field where each frame acts as a signifier. The scenes, rendered with delicate lines and subtle color washes, depict episodes of pursuit and chase. This unfolding narrative is structured not by conventional perspective but by a sequence, a syntagmatic chain of events. Plügger plays with the idea of representation itself; the linearity imposes a certain order. Yet, the chaotic nature of the chase and the interplay of characters challenge any fixed interpretation, inviting the viewer to construct their own understanding of the sequence. This destabilization of meaning, inherent in the artwork’s form, suggests a deeper engagement with the fluidity of narrative and the subjective nature of interpretation.