De gefopte duivel 1876 - 1890

"De gefopte duivel" presents as a sequence of vignettes that weave a narrative thread. The restricted palette of black and yellow-beige serves to unify the composition, yet it is the panelled layout that creates a distinct rhythm, guiding the eye through the story's unfolding. The organization into discrete scenes invites a structuralist reading, where each panel functions as a signifier within a larger symbolic system. How do these panels destabilize established meanings? The devil is deceived, suggesting a reversal of traditional power structures. There is an inversion of moral expectations, and cultural norms are scrutinized through a semiotic lens, where signs are re-evaluated within the narrative's framework. Notice how the architectural elements of the church serve as a recurring motif, grounding the narrative, and how these structural components reflect the artist's commentary on institutional authority. Ultimately, this art piece questions and reinterprets traditional tales.