Sneering Collection

Sid Vicious Singer Punk Band The Sex Pistols with the band in Holland

French satirical cartoon of General Felix-Gustave Saussier
Vintage engraving of a French satirical cartoon of Felix-Gustave Saussier. A French army general who became involved in Dreyfus affair

Gossip Birds
Illustration of four blue birds sitting on a branch. One of the birds is mocked and made fun of by the others. Concept for bullying and intolerance

The crown of thorns engraving 1870
The Dore Gallery by Edmund Ollier - Cassel, Petter and Galpin (London-New York) 1870

The enchantment of Don Quixote
" The enchantment of Don Quixote. Engraving from 1870. Engraving by Gustave Dore, Photo by D Walker."

Illustration from La Revue Blanche, March 1894 (colour litho)
CHT182710 Illustration from La Revue Blanche, March 1894 (colour litho) by Toulouse-Lautrec, Henri de (1864-1901); Private Collection; (add.info)

WW1 - Comic Postcard - K-Nut in a tuxedo
WW1 - Before conscription into the army was introduced, a certain class of young men existed, for whom everything was " too much bally trouble" or " too much fag." They were

Portrait of Sibylle von Cleve, Electress of Saxony, 1535 (oil on panel)
CH469715 Portrait of Sibylle von Cleve, Electress of Saxony, 1535 (oil on panel) by Cranach, Lucas, the Elder (1472-1553); 20.3x14.6 cm; Private Collection; (add.info)

The Witches, 1897 (oil on canvas)
CH402195 The Witches, 1897 (oil on canvas) by Corinth, Lovis (Franz Heinrich Louis) (1858-1925); 95x120.4 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Die Hexen; ); Photo eChristies Images; German

Man trying to ride a cow
An uncomfortable-looking Georgian era man trying to ride a cow, to the amusement of a group of rural maidens. From " R

Illustration of sneering teenage girl teasing crying sister by holding teddy bear above her head

Patriotic British postcard, bayonet practice, WW1
First World War patriotic postcard, showing an imaginary German soldier standing behind the dummy used for bayonet practice

Portrait of the Young St George

Illustration for A Midsummer Nights Dream, from The Illustrated Library Shakespeare
KW469515 Illustration for A Midsummer Nights Dream, from The Illustrated Library Shakespeare, published London 1890 (litho) by Gilbert, John (1817-97); Private Collection; Ken Welsh; English

Boy (8-9) making face in studio, (B&W)

African lion cub (Panthera leo) snarling, close-up

Antique illustration of decorative image (cul-de-lampe) with faces
Antique illustration of decorative element: a cul-de-lampe (French book ornament with a peculiar roughly triangle shape, usually put at the bottom of a page)

Humorous exchnge between actor and theatre critic
Actor - " What did you think of my performance of the ghost?" Critic - " It was most lifelike." !!! Date: 1893

Italy, Sardinia, Tharros, Sneering mask, terracotta 6th-5th Century B.C. Italy, Cagliari, Museo Archeologico Nazionale (Archaeological Museum), Phoenician art

Mistress & Maid 1919
Yet more sneering middle class humour at a maids expense. A haughty mistress pries into her maids life wanting to know her reasons for wanting an evening off. Typical!

First Glimpse of the Sea
An elderly couple from the country make a dim-witted observation regarding the amount of water at the seaside. Typical example of sneering middle class humour

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"Sneering: A Timeless Expression of Rebellion and Contempt" In the realm of punk rock, Sid Vicious, the iconic singer of The Sex Pistols, epitomized sneering defiance. With his snarling lips and rebellious attitude, he became a symbol of punk's raw energy. Like gossip birds spreading their wings, sneering transcends music to infiltrate various art forms. From an engraving depicting a crown of thorns in 1870 to an enchanting illustration from Don Quixote's tale, this expression captures our fascination with rebellion. One such captivating portrayal can be found in La Revue Blanche's colorful lithograph from March 1894. Its vibrant hues bring forth the essence as it challenges societal norms and expectations. Artists throughout history have embraced this powerful gesture; one example being a self-portrait by an unknown artist in 1910. Through watercolors and charcoal on paper, they captured their inner turmoil with every line etched on their face. Even during times of war like World War I, humor prevailed through comic postcards featuring K-Nut donning a tuxedo. His mischievous smirk reminds us that even amidst chaos, laughter can serve as a form of resistance. Portraits also bear witness to the potency expressions. Sibylle von Cleve's portrait from 1535 radiates strength as she gazes defiantly into the distance while Isabell Wetherstone's oil painting from c. 1605 exudes confidence through her subtle curling lips. But sometimes sneers transcend humans altogether; take for instance the comical image of a man attempting to ride a cow or the satirical French cartoon mocking General Felix-Gustave Saussier. These depictions remind us that even animals and caricatures possess their own brand of disdainful amusement. Sneering has become more than just an expression; it has become a symbol of resistance, rebellion, and individuality.