Onderwijzer voor de klas 1866 - 1886

Willem Steelink created this etching, 'Onderwijzer voor de klas,' meaning 'Teacher in front of the classroom,' at an unknown date. At the time, school was seen as a crucial institution, where children received not only academic instruction, but also moral guidance and preparation for their roles in society. This image reflects that ethos. The children are facing the teacher, looking towards the blackboard; they are literally being taught how to see. Steelink was Dutch, and this image can be seen as a commentary on the nation's education system, and its role in shaping the next generation of citizens. Was Steelink celebrating the progressive function of education, or critiquing the conformity it encouraged? These are the kinds of questions a social historian might ask when looking at this image, using sources such as school records, government reports, and even literature and popular culture. They all provide insights into the social and institutional context that shaped both the artwork and its reception.