"Sangeren" 1778 - 1780

Editor: We're looking at "Sangeren," or "The Singer," a print by Georg Christian Schule, created between 1778 and 1780. It’s an engraving and it has the feel of a caricature. I find his open mouth and intense expression so amusing, but what do you see in this piece? Curator: Well, the beauty of caricature, my friend, is that it’s rarely just *amusing*, is it? This fellow, look at the swagger, the ridiculously puffed-out cheeks! To me, he embodies a certain kind of performative…excess. Remember, this is late 18th century. How do we like the cut of his jib, eh? Editor: Performative excess, I like that! So, this isn’t just a funny drawing of a singer? Curator: Heavens, no. The way the artist exaggerated certain features, you see, the intensity… maybe Schule is critiquing those who put on a show, all surface and no substance? Look at the hat askew, the implied movement... there is a joyful frenzy! Almost mad... don't you think? Editor: Absolutely, the more I look, the more over-the-top the engraving becomes. All that’s missing is for the viewer to get a shower from all the sweat of the performance! Do you think his Baroque-ish outfit can also inform our understanding? Curator: Good question! Consider the remnants of Baroque style - the extravagance - juxtaposed with a rising call for Enlightenment ideals of rationality. Perhaps this contrast reveals societal tensions of the time, hmm? What do you think, Editor? Editor: Interesting. So, Schule might be using the singer to poke fun at old traditions, even mock them through the print's style. I guess that there's so much more to see beyond that first laugh. Thanks for guiding me, this piece reveals more to me than ever! Curator: The pleasure is all mine! You brought a fresh look and asked interesting questions, this allowed me to discover new things and reassess my opinions too. Remember that sometimes what seems simple or obvious at first glance can reveal layers upon layers of meanings!