An Ass Falls From the Sky (Fourth Canto) 1766

Editor: This is Jacques Jean Pasquier's print, "An Ass Falls From the Sky (Fourth Canto)." It's undated. The scene is chaotic, and I'm struck by the bizarre subject matter. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Consider the material conditions: printmaking as a medium democratized images. This meant satire and social commentary could reach a wider audience. The "ass" falling might be a comment on the perceived stupidity or burden carried by the lower classes, now literally dropped into the lap of the elite. What power structures might Pasquier be critiquing through this imagery? Editor: So, the very accessibility of the print enabled its critique? Curator: Exactly. It’s about the intersection of production, dissemination, and the social commentary it facilitates. Editor: That's a really interesting way to think about it – thank you!