The infernal dream of Mutt and Jeff is a reflective narrative by artist Zoe Beloff about the process of media excavation of the 1930s cartoon characters Mutt and Jeff.Discovering a roll of film printed cheaply on cellophane at The Vrielynck Collection in Antwerp, the artist uncovered a 2 minute film designed to be viewed through a child's toy projector.The story, two down on their luck characters trying to make their way in a cold dark winter with very little resources make a deal with the devil and fall into hell.This discovery became the centre piece of a new work by the artist exploring ideas around work, labour, the body and the macro systems of economics and capitalism that shape human behaviour.The infernal dream of Mutt and Jeff is a personal, intimate think piece around how small fragments of moving image material have unexpected value in contemporary life.In Zoe's world, Mickey Mouse and Charlie Chaplin are part of a cultural continuum with the high art-world heroes of Picasso and Duchamp.Published to accompany the exhibition The Infernal Dream of Mutt and Jeff at Site Gallery, Sheffield (18 November 2011 – 21 January 2012).