Hier ziet gy pronken triumphant, De schoonste neuzen van het land / Ici vous voyez, mes amis, Les plus jolis nez du pays 1800 - 1833

This print, made by Philippus Jacobus Brepols, presents a grid of caricatured faces, each distinguished by an exaggerated nose. The composition's structure is straightforward: a series of heads in profile, rendered with sharp lines and a limited palette of ochre and burgundy, against a pale background. This creates a rhythmic visual pattern, yet the individual peculiarities of each nose pull us into a closer look. The repetitive structure invites a semiotic reading, where each nose acts as a signifier of identity, class, or perhaps even moral character. The uniformity of the grid is destabilized by the grotesque variations of each nose, challenging conventional notions of beauty and social standing. The artist plays with structural expectations, using repetition to emphasize difference. Consider how the formal choices—the stark lines, the repetitive structure, the limited color—function beyond mere aesthetics. These elements work together to create a commentary on individuality and societal norms, prompting us to question the very structures that define our perceptions.