Allen verrast / Goedkoope schoenen? (...)!! c. 1902

This comic strip, "Allen verrast / Goedkoope schoenen? (...)!!" was made by Augé, and published by Pellerin & Cie. Without a precise date, we can only speculate about the social context it emerged from. Consider the visual narratives: one appears to depict boys engaging in mischievous pranks. The other follows a man's pursuit of cheap shoes, leading to slapstick and destruction. I'm immediately drawn to the theme of class. The narrative unfolds as a commentary on societal values, where the pursuit of a bargain leads to chaos. Augé uses humor to engage us, but also to subtly critique consumer culture and class aspirations. The cartoon is a physical reminder of the intersections between entertainment, social commentary, and the everyday struggles of identity and value. The comic invites us to reflect on how humor shapes our understanding of the world, and perhaps, our own places within it.