La Bagatelle, ou Discours ironiques 1-2/2 - Effen, Justus van 1684-1735 (Amsterdam Uytwerf, 1742)
Moral observations in a satirical tone. Interests: fashion, religion, morals. Authors studied: Addison, Swift, La Bruyère.
Dutch Journal published every thursday and monday between 5 mai 1718 and 13 avril 1719.
Already the author of several journals including the first spectator in French (Le Misanthrope), Justus van Effen attempted to capture the Regency spirit in France with La Bagatelle. Produced as a twice-weekly quarter sheet, La Bagatelle included witty observations on contemporary society, literary controversies, bolder, more subversive reflections on questions of religion, as well as short works of poetry and prose.
Since 1718, the publication of the Literary Journal had been delayed by the nonchalance of the bookseller Johnson. For van Effen this meant a considerable loss of money, so he sought some compensation. He launched La Bagatelle for personal reasons.
The author intended (cf. Preface) to lead men from the ridiculousness of custom and fashion to Reason; but his ironic style was not understood. Convinced of his error, he wanted to change his plan: "I will put a capital I on the frontispiece of my Feuille Volante, so that the public will be aware of it" (I, as in Irony), he declares at the end of the first volume. In fact, van Effen himself, a serious man, found it difficult to sustain the satirical tone. In short, La Bagatelle was not a success.
Preface in the issue of Monday 5 September 1718: "to bring Men back from the ridiculous impressions of Custom and Fashion to the eternal and invariable principles of Reason, which must be the only Rule of our Conduct".
Keywords: 18th Century (1701-1800); Philosophy; Satire; Journalism; Moral education; Netherlands