Klaas Kapoen / Colas Capon 1833 - 1911

This is a print titled "Klaas Kapoen / Colas Capon," created by Brepols & Dierckx zoon. Notice how the narrative unfolds through a series of small scenes, almost like a comic strip. Each frame captures a moment of mischief and disorder, a theme resonating across cultures and eras. The figure of the ‘naughty child,’ or the trickster, appears here. The punishments rendered in these scenes can be found in other visual depictions of 'bad children' throughout history. Consider the recurring motif of physical discipline. The raised hand or the birch, gestures of authority and control, remind us of deeply ingrained social structures. These scenes evoke primal emotions: fear, rebellion, and the eternal struggle between individual freedom and societal norms. One is reminded of similar imagery in medieval morality plays, where sin is punished, a concept carried forward in later periods. The fear of judgement and the hope for redemption remain powerful forces engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. This symbol of the naughty child has resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings in different historical contexts.