Kinderen wilt vlijtig leeren, / Dan zal men u deez' print verëeren, / Wläan 't gebruik is u gegund, / Wijl gij er steeds uit leeren kunt 1818 - 1828

Curator: This engraving from between 1818 and 1828, now residing at the Rijksmuseum, is entitled "Kinderen wilt vlijtig leeren, / Dan zal men u deez' print vereeren, / Wlän 't gebruik is u gegund, / Wijl gij er steeds uit leeren kunt", created by W. van Bergen. Editor: What strikes me immediately is how this resembles a very early comic strip. It's lighthearted, a little rough around the edges in its printing. You can see the repetitive, grid-like structure that’s so popular even today. Curator: Indeed, the format is fascinating. Look at the methods of production: It's an engraving, likely printed on inexpensive paper, designed for broad distribution. This suggests a conscious effort to create something accessible, perhaps intended for didactic purposes. We also see some rudimentary attempts to add color by hand. Editor: It's filled with all these everyday scenes, though. A boy stealing fruit, someone chopping wood...what are the meanings these images would have had to the audience of the time? The image of a boy being presented a globe to study feels symbolic of the relationship between learning and knowledge, power and exploration. It all feels deliberately curated. Curator: Agreed, each scene presents a scenario ripe for moralizing, fitting for the time. The quality of the lines suggest this was maybe not viewed as high art. It’s more akin to folk art that served a particular function. It blurs boundaries and makes us rethink divisions that we artificially apply. Editor: I suppose ultimately we're seeing something designed not just to be seen, but to instruct. An early attempt to communicate complex social and moral concepts through simple, visual narratives. A lot to unpack here. Curator: Yes, reflecting on the conditions of the materials themselves gives me insight into the artist’s aim to reach people directly and shape their view of their place in the world. Editor: Considering these small frames with little narratives…they reveal, in essence, how children's cultural knowledge was shared through repeated, simple stories. Very interesting indeed.