Hier kind'ren leeft ge in 't lang en breed, / Al wat Thyl Uilenspiegel deed, / En wild gy 't zingen zingt dan na; / De aloude wys van Pierelala 1781 - 1800

This illustrated broadside, printed by S. and W. Koene, depicts scenes from the life of Thyl Uilenspiegel, a trickster figure known throughout the Low Countries. The images are accompanied by verses, inviting the viewer to sing along with the "aloude wys van Pierelala," an ancient melody. Consider the recurring motif of the fool, epitomized by Uilenspiegel. This character finds echoes in other cultures and times – from the medieval jester to the commedia dell'arte's Harlequin. The fool is an archetype, a figure who, through absurdity, challenges social norms. This image of the prankster reminds us of the carnivalesque spirit described by Bakhtin, where laughter becomes a form of liberation. The fool embodies the id, the primal instinct, reminding us of our own repressed desires and challenging the superego. The endurance of the fool archetype, like Uilenspiegel, speaks to its deep-seated psychological roots and its function as a release valve for collective anxieties. The image's emotional power lies in the vicarious pleasure we derive from Uilenspiegel’s antics. We are drawn to the transgressive nature of the fool, who embodies the chaos and the unexpected.