Twee dwergen voor de maand augustus, 1720 1718 - 1720

Editor: Here we have "Two Dwarfs for the Month of August," a print made between 1718 and 1720 by Joost van Sassen. It's definitely Baroque in style, and it looks like an engraving. There’s a sort of darkly humorous mood about it, I think. What strikes you about it? Curator: Well, isn’t it fascinating? It reminds me of a strange dream… the kind you have after too much cheese. The exaggerated features, the tiny hands…it’s almost grotesque, yet I find it captivating. It’s definitely playing on caricature and the Baroque love of theatricality and ornamentation, you see? It really makes you think about social commentary through humor. Do you find the text below intriguing? Editor: I do! It almost looks like a riddle accompanying the image. Is there a connection? Curator: Absolutely! These prints, particularly in the Baroque era, would often pair visuals with satirical verses. Think of it as the 18th-century equivalent of a political cartoon with a scathing caption. What do you think Van Sassen might be satirizing here? What type of persons would make you compare to Dwarfs, as for the Month of August? Editor: Maybe vanity or the ridiculousness of high society types? Like how the wealthy overdress or overindulge in food, for instance? Curator: Precisely! And this contrast – pairing refinement and wealth alongside distorted figures – is where the humor derives. Editor: I see. So, it's both art and social critique woven together? I’ll think about August differently this year! Curator: It always comes down to the lens of your personal impression.