Kermisprent van de vuilnismannen van Amsterdam voor het jaar 1846 1846

Dirk Wijbrand Tollenaar created this print in 1846 for the Amsterdam garbage collectors, using it as a kermis wish to the city’s merchants and citizens. The central figures, the garbage men, draw our attention, but consider the broader scene. Notice the festive crowd, a scene reminiscent of a Bacchanalian procession. This motif echoes ancient rituals, symbolizing communal celebration and perhaps a temporary inversion of social order. The garbage men, normally on the periphery, take center stage during the kermis, embodying a topsy-turvy world where societal roles are playfully subverted. The dog could be seen as a symbol of loyalty, but consider how dogs appear in other contexts. In Renaissance art, a dog at a woman’s feet signifies marital fidelity, yet here, amidst the revelry, the dog seems more a part of the chaotic street scene, a reminder of the animalistic undercurrents beneath the veneer of civilization. It's a symbol of a non-linear progression, resurfacing, and evolving through historical contexts.