China prentbriefkaart 'De Chineesche draak tot den Stier Europa' c. 1900 - 1918

Here is the dragon versus the bull, rendered in print. It’s a cartoon, a caricature—political, I’m guessing. But it’s so graphic, the white dragon, the black bull, the yellow ground. It's so weird, it takes on an abstract life of its own. I can imagine Alfaro Reijding, the artist, bent over a table with his materials, carefully drawing, making decisions on the fly. It’s all very decisive. No soft edges here. It’s a world of clear boundaries. Look at the dragon’s whiskers, the line so assured and controlled. But then, that goofy grin, that weird feathery frill that looks like a pompom. Everything coexists; confidence and silliness. It’s like the picture is winking at you, letting you know it doesn’t take itself too seriously. Which is probably the best way to do politics anyway.