In Robert Musils magnum opus Der Mann ohne Eigenschaften (The Man without Qualities) the writer describes his protagonist in a satirical way as a man who is a conformist within the context of a collapsing and chauvinistic imperial system of Austria in the interbellum. This comes to mind looking at Julia Winter's series of her 'Under-cover'. She paints her undercover men in slick, fashionable clothes. Exactly what business men, football players, politicians and criminals would like to see themselves. They are the James Bonds of our society who protect the system, but lack any identity. The systems love these clerks who perfectly represent the system. They sympathises and support the system without any critical comment or controversial attitude.
The combination with the covers of books juxtaposes the 'non-content' of their existence to 'high scientific or cultural' values that is represented in the books. This juxtaposition is the critical and satirical comment on the modern version of the 'Apparatchik'.
“Under-cover1”
“Under-cover”
“Under-cover2”
