Driekoningenbriefjes 1860 - 1875

This broadside, printed by E.P.A. Geer, presents a series of stock characters, each with a rhyming verse, likely for entertainment. The absence of a specific date invites us to consider the broader social context of its production and consumption. Visual codes are abundant. We see the King, Queen, Advisor, Secretary, Cook, and Fool. The characters and verses tell us a lot about Dutch social structure. The verses reveal hierarchies and expectations within households and communities. This kind of popular print provided entertainment but also reinforced social norms. Were these images of power? Were they figures of fun? To fully understand this print, we might look to similar examples of Dutch broadsides, investigate the printing practices of E.P.A. Geer, and research the social customs associated with the figures depicted. Art history here reveals the values of a society.