Vignet til J. H. Wessels "Samtlige skrifter" 1787

Georg Christian Schule created this vignette for J. H. Wessels' collected writings, using engraving techniques typical of the late 18th century. The scene, framed as if on a stage, hints at the theatricality of social roles and the sometimes thin line between virtue and vice. Produced in Denmark, the print reflects the Enlightenment's preoccupation with reason and morality, but also a growing awareness of social hypocrisy. The inscription, with its pointed contrast between thief and traitor, suggests a critique of power structures and the ease with which one's status can be inverted. Studying such an image, we can examine period literature, theater, and political writings, which reveal much about the complex social norms of the time. Art, in this instance, becomes a mirror reflecting society's own anxieties and self-perceptions.