Het nieuw vermakelijk luilekkerland 1827 - 1894

This color print titled "Het nieuw vermakelijk luilekkerland," was created by M. Hemeleers-van Houter. The design presents a grid of scenes, each a small tableau vivant, rendered with simple, almost childlike lines and coloring. This structured arrangement invites a semiotic reading, where each scene functions as a sign within a larger cultural code. The use of serial imagery creates a sense of order but also points to the repetitiveness of human desires and follies. The formal simplicity and naivete of the lines contrast with the complex, often satirical, content of each scene. The rudimentary rendering of figures and objects flattens the visual field, pushing against traditional perspective and depth, which suggests a world where surface appearances are deceiving. In its totality, the artwork functions as a mirror reflecting back society’s values and shortcomings. It dares us to question the very foundations upon which such a land is built.