Titelvignet til Smollett "Peregrine Pickles Tildragelser" 1786

Georg Christian Schule created this title vignette for Smollett’s "Peregrine Pickles Tildragelser" using engraving techniques. The image plunges us into a scene of abduction, laden with the visual codes of its time. Made in late 18th-century Denmark, the artwork provides insight into the period's social mores and the representation of class dynamics. Consider the architecture and dress, signalling social standing. One man carries a woman over his shoulder, while another seems to assist or perhaps even instigate the act. Is this a commentary on social mobility, or a satire of contemporary power structures? To fully understand this vignette, research into the period’s reception of Smollett's work, as well as the social function of Danish book illustration, would be invaluable. Only then can we truly interpret its message and its place within the cultural landscape of its time.