Rebus: Béranger was not really strong, for he never had the key to the fields 1863

Editor: Charles Meryon’s etching from 1863, titled "Rebus: Béranger was not really strong, for he never had the key to the fields", really strikes me as odd. It’s like a visual puzzle with all these strange images stacked on top of each other. How do you interpret this work, especially with its seemingly random symbolism? Curator: It's definitely a puzzle! Meryon was fascinated by rebuses—visual wordplay. This print isn't just a collection of random images, it's a coded commentary. The bird at the top could signify freedom or perhaps a messenger, setting the stage for the symbolic narrative that follows. Think of how specific images carried weight during this period. Editor: So each picture stands for a word or idea, and together they form a statement? Like a secret message in plain sight? Curator: Exactly. The fort, with "Fate des Boulangers" inscribed inside, evokes notions of destiny and sustenance. What might the image of a barrel evoke? It is labeled ‘espoir’ and ‘salaison’…Hope and Salting? Editor: Maybe preserving hope during hardship? The ‘salaison’ part definitely hints at preservation…and hardship perhaps? Curator: Precisely. These images collectively comment on Béranger’s perceived weakness, utilizing common cultural symbols to subtly critique his strength. Consider also Meryon’s attraction to Romanticism and Symbolism; do you find elements that resonate with these art movements here? Editor: The landscape feels Romantic, but the rebus itself is purely symbolic, like a riddle waiting to be solved, the strange imagery evokes certain psychological responses for me and now understanding its possible purpose unlocks a completely new perspective to the work! Curator: Seeing how visual elements create meaning and continuity within a culture gives a deep sense of place and time. Editor: I'll never look at seemingly random images the same way again!