Asschepoesters leed en vreugde / Wordt u, kind'ren! hier vertoond; / Leert hier uit dat deugd en braafheid, / Zich op 't laatste ziet beloond 1781 - 1828

This print, "Asschepoesters leed en vreugde", was made by J. Hendriksen using engraving techniques. The work consists of twelve separate vignettes arranged in a grid, each depicting a scene from the story of Cinderella. The organization of these scenes creates a sequential narrative flow, yet this structure is destabilized by the varying perspectives and scales within each frame. Lines, rendered with meticulous detail, define the figures and architectural spaces, and the use of hatching and cross-hatching creates tonal variations, emphasizing the textures of clothing and interiors. The composition within each vignette balances clarity with a certain visual density, reflecting the intricate moral and social codes of the time. The scenes invite a reading of the Cinderella story as a complex interplay of virtue, hardship, and reward, framed within the domestic spaces and social interactions of 19th-century life. The semiotic encoding within each scene—gestures, costumes, and settings—functions as a visual language, communicating values and expectations. The visual structure of this print serves not only to illustrate a well-known tale but also to encode it with cultural meanings that invite viewers to reflect on themes of morality and social mobility.