Cremallots; La Llanterna

This wood engraving by Francesc Casanovas Gorchs depicts a hand wielding a telescope or viewing instrument, with a lantern and grotesque figures emerging from it. The composition plays on optical illusion and absurdist humor—typical of fin-de-siècle European comic illustration. The work reflects the tradition of political and social satire inherited from 18th- and 19th-century masters like Gillray and Daumier, where exaggerated forms and symbolic objects conveyed critique of institutions, politics, or public figures. The densely hatched background and bold contrasts of the wood-cut medium create dramatic visual impact. This print demonstrates how European artists adapted classical satire techniques for popular consumption, establishing visual languages that would influence early comic strips and periodical illustration.