Floskaartjes 1866 - 1902

This print, entitled ‘Floskaartjes’, was made by Franciscus Antonius Beersmans in the 19th century. The print presents a grid-like structure, reminiscent of a neatly organized set of cards. Each cell contains a figure that seems to represent a specific role or character within a social hierarchy. Beersmans employs a limited color palette, with reds, greens, and yellows that create a visual rhythm across the composition. The figures, rendered with precise lines, have a somewhat flattened appearance. The very structure of this piece invites us to consider how Beersmans, perhaps unwittingly, engages with the semiotic systems that define social roles. Each figure is not merely a representation but a signifier, a visual cue that points to a broader set of cultural meanings and expectations. The grid format might itself be seen as a structuralist framework, suggesting a system of relationships and contrasts that underpin social order. It functions as a means of categorizing and understanding the world, echoing philosophical notions of social construction and representation.