Omkeerprent met het gelauwerde hoofd van een filosoof en een ezelskop c. 1838 - 1841

Curator: Well, this image certainly is... something. What's your take? Editor: Intriguing! My first impression is one of satirical humor, cloaked in the respectability of classical portraiture. It's poking fun, I think. Curator: Absolutely. What we have here is an engraving from around 1838 to 1841, "Omkeerprent met het gelauwerde hoofd van een filosoof en een ezelskop," attributed to Friedrich Wilhelm Rossbach. It resides here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: So, a reversible print featuring the lauded head of a philosopher and a donkey. The laurel wreath seems significant, an ancient symbol of wisdom and victory. Curator: Precisely. But note how easily that supposed sage transforms when inverted! The 'philosopher' becomes an ass, quite literally. It speaks volumes about power structures, particularly who gets to be considered an intellectual. Editor: It's a brilliant commentary on the perceived value of intellectualism versus perhaps…common sense. What constitutes true wisdom and who decides that? Is this about the dangers of academic pomposity? Curator: Could be, it highlights the blurred lines between intellect and foolishness. We have to consider the social context. The 19th century saw a rise in the academic elite, alongside a burgeoning criticism of the establishment. Editor: Indeed. It could also address issues of class. The image, as caricature, could be highlighting social inequalities—the ‘philosopher’ elite contrasted with the working classes represented by the donkey. Curator: Good point! Considering Romanticism's broader obsession with duality, the print’s inherent doubleness is very on-trend. The way institutions define and often confine identity. Editor: A very apt comment! Thank you. I'll remember this particular figure when facing future power dynamics. Curator: Yes, I think for me it highlights just how fickle perceived wisdom can be through shifting socio-political sands. It serves to remain skeptical of everything.