"Fred siden 1720..." 1798

Editor: This is an etching titled "\"Fred siden 1720...\" from 1798 by an anonymous artist. It’s small, part of a sketchbook it looks like. I'm immediately struck by its satirical mood—the figures are rendered in such a peculiar way, almost like caricatures. What do you see in this piece that maybe I'm missing? Curator: Ah, yes! It reminds me of something you might find tucked away in a dusty archive, whispering secrets of the past with a wry smile. Look closely at the little pots on the table... What do you imagine they might be holding, besides obvious contributions from those bewigged gentlemen? Perhaps, hidden promises and not-so-secret agendas? The dog in front really accentuates that suspicion. Editor: Hmm, interesting! So you're saying the details, like the pots and the dog, are meant to be symbolic? Curator: Precisely! This was a period of upheaval, where societal norms were constantly questioned. Artists often used symbolism to subtly critique the powers that be. Can you imagine the artist chuckling to themself as they sketched this scene? What about that strange masked figure with horns on the right? Editor: That detail didn't really come across for me until you mentioned it! So it seems a humorous jab at authority figures who might actually be quite diabolical? This almost gives it the expressionistic feel we now associate with Munch! Curator: Perhaps! And there's so much happening in the sketch overall. It almost feels unfinished in places... it makes you wonder about its authenticity. Editor: I'm seeing so much more now. Thanks, this gives me so much more to think about! Curator: My pleasure! Sometimes it takes a little imagination to crack the code of art, to reveal what truly comes from deep inside it.