Dronkaard en zwijn 1763 - 1804

Johann Friedrich Gottlieb Unger created this small etching titled "Dronkaard en zwijn" — or "Drunkard and Swine" — around the late 18th century. Its monochromatic palette focuses our attention on the dynamic interplay between light and shadow, creating a scene rich in texture and depth. Unger employs a series of diagonal lines to emphasize the chaotic posture of the drunkard and the ragged appearance of the pig, mirroring one another in their dishevelment. The composition is framed by stark vertical and horizontal lines, offering a rigid structure that starkly contrasts the scene’s disorder. This tension serves not merely as a depiction of intoxication but as a study of societal breakdown. The pig—often a symbol of gluttony—underscores the moral decay implied in the drunkard’s stupor. The empty bottles scattered around further highlight the themes of excess and waste, inviting a semiotic reading of each element as a signifier of broader social issues. Unger uses form to destabilize the supposed order of society, suggesting a world where humans and animals are equally subject to base desires.