De snoepachtige Pieter 1876 - 1897

This lithograph by Albert Quantin, titled 'De snoepachtige Pieter,' presents a series of scenes depicting a boy's misadventures, each framed like a comic strip panel. The dominant symbol here is the falling figure, repeated throughout the narrative. We see the protagonist tumbling from chairs, ladders, and even into a washtub, each fall echoing the ancient motif of Icarus, plummeting from the sky. This motif, found in classical art, often symbolizes overreaching ambition and inevitable failure. Here, it takes on a more humorous tone, reflecting the boy’s mischievous attempts to steal sweets. But consider how this symbol resonates across time. From the tragic fall of Phaeton in Roman sculpture to the comedic tumbles in commedia dell'arte, the falling figure evokes a primal fear and a schadenfreude delight. The image touches on our collective memory, where the fear of failure is ever-present, softened by the humor of youthful folly. This image’s emotional power lies in its ability to evoke a deep, subconscious understanding of human frailty and ambition. The non-linear progression of this symbol, resurfacing in different contexts, highlights how certain archetypes persist, adapting to new cultural narratives.