Tyl Uilenspiegel / Ulenspiegel 1833 - 1911

Curator: Ah, yes, here we have "Tyl Uilenspiegel / Ulenspiegel," a print created between 1833 and 1911 by Brepols & Dierckx. It's currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Editor: You know, seeing it for the first time, it feels almost like stumbling upon a vintage cartoon strip, or storyboard. I can imagine turning these into the individual slides of some silent movie… the action really bursts off the page. Curator: Exactly. The work tells a narrative, and leans into genre painting and the aesthetics of comics. There's an element of serialized storytelling embedded in its presentation. What sort of story do you get? Editor: Well, there's clearly some mayhem involved. People falling, brawling. It looks like maybe a trickster figure at the center of it all? I mean, his outfits scream "I'm here to stir things up". There’s also something medieval feeling in the characters that makes it both comedic, with slapstick, and, oddly serious? Curator: Absolutely. This refers to the stories of Till Eulenspiegel, a trickster from German folklore, known for playing pranks and exposing hypocrisy, in social situations involving class, commerce, family and friendship. Consider his actions as subversive commentaries on the established order. How does it make you feel? Editor: Anxious but delighted. Like I want to simultaneously protect these little people and let them go wild. It’s this odd feeling that one knows the rules of civility are absurd, that anarchy might actually bring needed reform, or maybe the world just needs a good pie in the face! What do you make of its relevance today? Curator: Given today's complex discussions about cultural narratives and historical interpretation, I would ask what voices have historically been sidelined and what lessons of liberation we still need to absorb today? This comical anti-hero serves as a potent reminder that, at our peril, authority demands accountability. Editor: Beautifully said. So, anarchy with a purpose! It’s definitely something that continues to resonate. Now I’m imagining updating Tyl's antics to fit the absurdity of our internet age, all of his stories taking place on social media!