De gedaanteverwisseling van Polichinel c. 1902

This is 'De gedaanteverwisseling van Polichinel' by Pellerin & Cie. and it's a print, probably from the 19th century, laid out like a comic strip. The way the colors are applied, so flat and bright, tells me it's all about storytelling, not pretending to be real. There’s a feeling of distance, like looking through a window, which I think comes from the printing process. Check out the panel where Polichinel is standing on a stool, he’s about to sneak out the window. The awkwardness of his pose—that slight tilt, the way he’s got one foot higher than the other—is just wonderful. The artist is embracing not being perfect, and that gives the whole thing such a lively energy. I’m reminded of the playful spirit of someone like Joan Miró, who wasn't afraid to be silly, and who also wanted to get away from the seriousness of traditional painting.