Fooled Collection

Cartoon of a miser Screwby being duped by a bankrupt aristocrat with a parcel of fake parchments
FLO4717935 Cartoon of a miser Screwby being duped by a bankrupt aristocrat with a parcel of fake parchments. Copperplate engraving after a satirical illustration by Timothy Bobbin (John Collier)

King Alfred in the camp of the Danes in the guise of a minstrel (colour litho)
7185266 King Alfred in the camp of the Danes in the guise of a minstrel (colour litho) by Crane, Donn P. (1878-1944); Private Collection; (add.info)

Robin Hood and Little John in disguise before the Sheriff of Nottingham (colour litho)
7185268 Robin Hood and Little John in disguise before the Sheriff of Nottingham (colour litho) by American School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Pitous revenge (colour litho)
6001217 Pitous revenge (colour litho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Pitous revenge. Illustration from 20 Images, Dispositions Diverses (Imagerie d Epinal)

After the election, illustration from Le Petit Journal, Supplement Illustre
REV279467 After the election, illustration from Le Petit Journal, Supplement Illustre, 2nd September 1893 (colour litho) by Meyer

Cartoon, A Silly Trick -- Farmer John Bull can t be fooled by a trickster with a turnip head, pretending to be an invading French soldier. Date: 1848

Pitous revenge (coloured engraving)
5998904 Pitous revenge (coloured engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Pitous revenge)

ARTHUR & EXCALIBUR ARTHUR & EXCALIBUR
Not an English myth at all but based on a Welsh story eagerly taken up by the Normans after the conquest as a means of culturally subjugating the English. Dont be fooled!

Couple exchange a love note behind the back of a cuckold
Cuckold Love - A man and a married woman exchange a love note behind the back of a fool (the womans husband, signified by the horns of a fool)

Customer inn fooled man drinking glass bar Children laugh
Customer in inn is being fooled, The man is drinking a glass at the bar of an inn. Children laugh at him outside because of a drawing of a drunk figure pinned on his back, inn, coffee house

Paranormal: William S. Marriott exposes the medium Tomczyk
The British magician William S. Marriott shows how investigator Ochorowicz might have been fooled by Polish medium Stanislawa Tomczyks psychokinetic feats. Date: 1910

Lindors letter, illustration from The Barber of Seville by Pierre
XIR239540 Lindors letter, illustration from The Barber of Seville by Pierre Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais (1732-99) (litho) (b/w photo) by Lemercier

Rosine, Bartholo, Count Almaviva, illustration from The Barber of Seville
XIR239539 Rosine, Bartholo, Count Almaviva, illustration from The Barber of Seville by Pierre Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais (1732-99) (litho) (b/w photo) by Lemercier

Antique illustration of two men arguing
Antique illustration of the charlatan and the fooled (by Callot) representing two men in period costume talking and gesticulating

Last Euch nichts vormachen, bleibt bei Deutschland (poster) lithograph 1919 by Wilhelm Levzow German artist. Poster shows a Polish man sitting on a Polish border gate

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"Fooled: A Tapestry of Deception and Disguise" In the annals of history, deceit has often played its cunning hand, leaving behind tales that both intrigue and astonish. From the treacherous assassination of Edward the Martyr to King Alfred's audacious masquerade among the Danes, these stories remind us that appearances can indeed be deceiving. Illustrated in sepia tones, an engraving from Cassells Illustrated History of England captures a pivotal moment in time - Edward's tragic demise at the hands of those who sought power through deception. The image serves as a haunting reminder that even those we trust can become instruments of betrayal. Contrasting this somber scene is a vibrant lithograph depicting Robin Hood and Little John donning clever disguises before facing off against the Sheriff of Nottingham. Their crafty ruse showcases how wit and trickery can outsmart even the most formidable adversaries. But it is not only historical events that bear witness to mankind's penchant for fooling others. In a colorful litho titled "Pitous Revenge, " mischief takes center stage as mischievous characters exact their playful retribution upon unsuspecting victims. Laughter echoes through every brushstroke, reminding us that sometimes being fooled brings joy rather than harm. Moving beyond mere illustrations, Le Petit Journal presents an insightful depiction capturing post-election shenanigans. Titled "After the Election, " this piece reveals how politicians' promises may ultimately prove illusory – a stark reminder to remain vigilant amidst political charades. Cartoonists too have long reveled in exposing folly with their pens; one such example portrays a silly trick unfolding before our eyes. With exaggerated expressions and slapstick humor, this visual commentary invites us to laugh at our own gullibility while reflecting on human nature's propensity for being easily deceived. Yet deception extends beyond historical accounts or satirical artistry; paranormal phenomena also find their place within the realm of trickery. William S.