Hoe de poesjes zich vermaken 1903 - 1919

Editor: So this is "Hoe de poesjes zich vermaken," which translates to "How the Kitties Amuse Themselves," created sometime between 1903 and 1919 by Arie Willem Segboer. It’s a watercolor print, a scene crammed with little cat vignettes! It feels both chaotic and charmingly old-fashioned to me. What do you see when you look at it? Curator: Oh, this takes me back! It reminds me of the Dutch "plaatjes" – those illustrated children's prints intended as both entertainment and subtle moral instruction. I see a delightful glimpse into a whimsical feline society. The cats are doing very human things – attending parties, playing games, even indulging in a bit of gossip, I suspect. Editor: Definitely! It's like a tiny cat world. Is this kind of genre-bending between animals and human society typical of the era? Curator: Absolutely. The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw a rise in anthropomorphism in art and literature. It's playful, of course, but it also subtly critiques human society, holding a mirror up to our own behaviors, doesn't it? Each scene offers a little story, a potential narrative. Editor: I never considered the social critique! So the sack race could be poking fun at our competitiveness, perhaps? Curator: Exactly! Or the lavish party... think about who traditionally enjoyed such amusements. It invites questions about wealth, leisure, and social dynamics. It’s easy to dismiss these images as simply cute, but they are clever observations. And think about who the intended audience would be—children, right? The humor might mask underlying meanings they would be picking up subconsciously. Editor: That really shifts my perspective. It’s way more complex than just a cute cat print. Curator: Precisely. Art can trick you that way. And perhaps, that is how the poesjes are really vermaken, even us! Editor: I'll definitely look at these images with new eyes from now on. Thanks!