Artwork
Toussaint, Peter - Malerei, Der besoffene Debary küsst unter Vergiessung bittrer Thränen die Baseler Fahne in Bells Weinkneipe im Februar 1836.
Toussaint, Peter - Malerei, Der besoffene Debary küsst unter Vergiessung bittrer Thränen die Baseler Fahne in Bells Weinkneipe im Februar 1836. is a drawing by Peter Toussaint. It dates from 1836 and is held in the collection of the Archaeology and Museum Baselland.
About this work
Overview
Peter Toussaint’s 1836 drawing, titled *Der besoffene Debary küsst unter Vergiessung bittrer Thränen die Baseler Fahne in Bells Weinkneipe im Februar 1836*, is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. Executed in ink, the work captures a chaotic tavern interior where patrons are drinking, arguing, and moving in a disorderly fashion, illuminated by a single window that casts a muted light across the scene.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a drunken figure in a red shirt who clutches a dog’s leash while pushing another man, an image that suggests a satirical take on a contemporary incident. German captions framing the picture hint at a specific anecdote or local joke from Basel, possibly commenting on civic pride or social disorder through exaggerated, humorous violence.
Technique & Style
Toussaint employs rapid, sketch‑like strokes and dense cross‑hatching to convey movement and the tumult of the tavern. The loose line work creates a sense of immediacy, while the shading, built up through intersecting lines, gives depth to the figures and the cramped interior. The overall style aligns with mid‑19th‑century genre drawing, emphasizing narrative over precise detail.
History & Provenance
Created in February 1836, the drawing entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings at an unspecified later date, where it remains catalogued as an example of period social commentary. No record of earlier private ownership or exhibition history is provided, indicating that the work may have been retained within institutional collections since its acquisition.
Context
The piece reflects a period in Swiss visual culture when everyday scenes were frequently rendered with a blend of humor and moral observation. By depicting a Basel flag being kissed amid “bitter tears,” Toussaint taps into local political sentiment and the lively atmosphere of public houses, which served as focal points for communal interaction and satire in the 1830s.
Artist & collection
Artist
Peter Toussaint is a Dutch singer-songwriter and musician, who has been living in Pretoria, South Africa since 2003. He played with De Niro in the Netherlands.
