Baker- en kniedeuntjes 1875 - 1903

“Baker- en kniedeuntjes” is a lithograph made by Jan de Haan. A collection of nursery rhymes and songs, it offers a window into the world of Dutch childhood and domestic life. However, look closer and you may notice the ways gender roles are reinforced. The women are caregivers and homemakers, while men appear as authority figures. This reflects the patriarchal structure of the time. The rhymes themselves, while seemingly innocent, carry cultural values and expectations. Consider the image of children playing, which speaks to the innocence of youth, but also to the class privilege of those with leisure time. As the artist said about his approach: "I want to create images that reflect the everyday life and values of our society." De Haan’s work invites us to reflect on the ways childhood is shaped by cultural norms, and how these norms perpetuate certain social structures. It prompts us to consider how these seemingly simple rhymes contribute to shaping our understanding of the world.