De leeuw en de mug 1894 - 1959

Editor: So, this print is called "De leeuw en de mug," or "The Lion and the Mosquito," dating from 1894 to 1959, found in the Rijksmuseum. It has this delightful storyboard feel; each frame captures a little moment. I'm intrigued by the use of color and how each panel is distinct yet connected. What jumps out at you about the composition of this piece? Curator: Initially, the piece's construction as a multi-paneled print captivates. The artist establishes a clear structural order and relies upon narrative. The artist's selection of colors creates an interesting cadence as it moves from one register to another. Notice how the organization on the page influences your reading of the comic strip? Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way. The lines between the panels almost disappear, so you read it quickly like it's a single image. I guess that affects how you understand the story? Curator: Precisely. The panels work together to create a visual language and communicate information through this structured sequencing, not just the content of each frame. We could almost remove the written words and the artist's rendering still makes the narrative knowable. What does that suggest? Editor: It shows how powerful the visual design is. It's like the layout itself tells the story! I wonder what impact it had at the time. Curator: It serves as a superb lesson in semiotics and the ability of composition and arrangement to enrich how people respond to images. I’ve noticed a new appreciation for narrative structure by exploring the organization of these framed drawings! Editor: I see that now, thanks for helping me dig a bit deeper into the intrinsic layout of the piece!