Deze prenten mooy en wel / Zijn 'er zestien op een vel 1725 - 1780

Editor: Right now, we're looking at "Deze prenten mooy en wel / Zijn 'er zestien op een vel", an engraving printed between 1725 and 1780, by Johannes (II) Kannewet. It’s a collection of somewhat crudely drawn animals, all crammed onto a single sheet. I get a really strong folk art vibe, almost like something a kid might draw. What catches your eye in this piece? Curator: Ah, yes! It whispers of market stalls and well-worn chapbooks. What grabs me is the sheer exuberance! It's almost as if the artist, dear Johannes, had a bet on how many creatures he could cram onto a single page. Do you see the faint, almost haphazard dabs of color? They remind me of childhood coloring books, slightly off the mark, wildly enthusiastic. It transforms these beasts from mere depictions to little splashes of narrative, doesn't it? What stories do they tell you, do you suppose? Editor: I hadn’t really thought about the color like that, as hints of stories! I was focused on how basic the animal depictions are. Does this level of folk art, for lack of a better term, mean this wouldn’t have been “serious art” at the time? Curator: A marvelous question! “Serious art” is such a fickle phrase, isn’t it? While these may not have graced the halls of the elite, their value lies in their accessibility and connection to everyday life. These were images for the masses, bursting with playful didacticism and humble charm. I imagine they decorated many a cozy home. The directness, almost like a visual shorthand, gives it such a delicious feeling, don’t you think? Editor: Definitely something special about it! I think I better understand its appeal. Thanks! Curator: The pleasure was entirely mine. It has truly changed my views of animal representations and its power to show folk's representation of their surroundings.