Hans en de schoorsteenveger c. 1843 - 1920

Editor: Here we have "Hans en de schoorsteenveger" which translates to "Hans and the Chimney Sweep," a lithograph from around 1843 to 1920, by Franz Graf von Pocci. It reminds me of a cartoon strip from an old book! What jumps out at me is how each panel illustrates a different moment of the story. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Well, the piece clearly portrays a social narrative through its episodic presentation, common for genre painting. I’m drawn to the socio-political context: it depicts, somewhat satirically, the grim realities of child labor, especially in trades like chimney sweeping during the 19th century. Given that lithographs were affordable prints, how might its intended audience have responded to its commentary? Editor: That’s a really insightful question. Considering that this could be aimed at the working class, then maybe there's criticism of wealthy classes exploiting vulnerable children! But where does the humorous aspect fit? Is it possibly a way to make the serious social issue approachable for conversation? Curator: Exactly! Caricature enables engagement. Furthermore, considering the prevalence of such imagery in public spaces and published books, this type of imagery played an interesting role in shaping the collective conscience around socio-economic injustice. What does its existence tell us about social awareness back then? Editor: So, its place in culture highlights the development of public perception towards labour, especially children. Seeing this, it really adds depth beyond what is simply shown at surface level, in each frame. Curator: Absolutely! By looking into how visual culture operates within social structures, you start unearthing the multiple layers of meaning embedded within what might initially appear straightforward.