Feest in de kinderkamer Possibly 1826 - 1838

George Cruikshank created this etching called "Feest in de kinderkamer" or "Party in the nursery." It's a humorous, satirical print that gives us insight into the social life and expectations of the upper classes in England. Made in the first half of the 19th century, the print is chaotic, crammed with rowdy children and tipsy adults at a Christmas party. The image is a window into the rigid social structures of the time, where childhood was idealized, yet often undermined by the habits of the parents. Cruikshank was a well-known caricaturist, often commenting on social issues of his time. He was even commissioned to create anti-alcohol images. Here, he’s poking fun at the adults who are meant to be in charge, but are clearly indulging in the revelry a bit too much. To truly understand this print, historians would delve into visual culture, etiquette manuals, and social commentaries of the time. What emerges is a picture of a society grappling with the changing roles of children and the responsibilities of adulthood, often falling short of its own ideals.