Qvamas kejser modtager gesandter 1786 - 1787

Curator: Look at this intriguing piece! It’s titled "Qvamas kejser modtager gesandter," or “Qvama’s Emperor Receiving Envoys,” created by J.F. Clemens between 1786 and 1787. The museum tells us it’s an engraving. Editor: My first thought? Utterly bizarre! The composition is like a fever dream. You have this naked chap sitting like he’s judging a pet show…and a standing bear looking quite cross. Curator: Indeed, there's an element of theatricality, wouldn't you agree? The scene appears to depict an imagined historical or mythological encounter, fitting into the narrative art theme. We can see how neoclassical printmakers aimed to illustrate morality and wisdom, however fanciful, with grand visual declarations. Editor: Fanciful is putting it mildly. This fellow on the left-- I guess the Emperor -- looks more like he is in a bad play; meanwhile, the animals look very indignant. All of that is rendered, ironically, with quite formal draftsmanship. This is neoclassical theatre of the absurd! Curator: Yes, it's wonderfully contradictory! Considering it's from the late 18th century, a period when political cartoons were gaining popularity as social commentary, I think it has something subversive bubbling under its surface. Perhaps Clemens is making a statement about the pomposity of power, dressing it up in the classical style while highlighting its inherent absurdity? Editor: Oh, I do hope so. A roasting of self-important rulers? Sign me up! Because otherwise, I just don’t know. The dog's expression? The rooster? It's all a bit too strange without a healthy dollop of satire. Curator: I appreciate how this print offers us a glimpse into a particular brand of enlightened satire, especially when considered in relation to contemporary notions of power, empire, and exoticism. And who knows, maybe there are other angles on this image that would also enrich our experience! Editor: Indeed. It's a wonderfully bewildering snapshot. An elegant reminder that even back then, not all art had to make sense... and maybe the most interesting art deliberately doesn't.