De kreeften 1894 - 1959

Curator: This drawing, called "De Kreeften," which translates to "The Lobsters," is attributed to Jules Maurel and thought to originate between 1894 and 1959. Created using pen and ink, it's rendered as a comic strip sketch. Editor: It's whimsical! There's a mischievousness radiating off it. That playful energy, chaotic and funny, totally jumps out! Curator: It absolutely does. And consider that this figuration appears as a comic or narrative-art. We can't ignore how such pieces play roles in understanding visual narratives from a certain historical context. Gender, familial relationships...these themes surface playfully but suggest hierarchies and expectations. Editor: Mmm, interesting. The composition with the different scenarios laid out on the page creates a sense of continuous motion. I find myself piecing the story together. Is that boy and the cat teaming up? It looks like absolute mayhem. I wonder what came before, what happened just after? What kind of boy pulls that kind of prank! Curator: The themes present open a fascinating dialogue with contemporary theory. Think about it: The seemingly innocent prank, situated within power dynamics—the boy, the presumed mother or guardian, the helpless animals...there's an interplay of control and subversion that speaks volumes about the anxieties and social structures of the era. We're compelled to question those dynamics, no? Editor: Definitely, now that you point that out! The humour seems layered and now much more mischievous, complex. It's kind of delightful to think of some people at the time seeing themselves reflected in these small, domestic struggles...but I also love the sheer absurdity of the idea of lobsters playing into some greater social narrative. It's like a fever dream in picture form. Curator: I find I appreciate this piece more after diving into its intersectional possibilities. Seeing it now less as simply whimsical but instead recognizing commentary on family life with considerations for gender and class dynamics provides depth. Editor: For me, imagining Maurel sketching these little scenes, finding humour in daily chaos...it’s beautiful to feel connected to the playful observation that birthed this artwork. Thanks for guiding me into those layers of social and political commentary, it made the scene more real and grounded.