Cijferkaart bij het Stoombootspel, ca. 1823-1829 1813 - 1829

Editor: We’re looking at a print called “Cijferkaart bij het Stoombootspel,” a number card for a steamboat game, created around 1823-1829 by A. Daane Az. It's an engraving with typography, very spare. What I find striking is the way numbers and letters are combined; it almost feels like a secret code. What's your take on it? Curator: I think that “secret code” feeling points towards an interesting intersection of play, literacy, and burgeoning industrialization. This game emerged during a period of immense social and technological change. What might the "Stoomboot" or steamboat represent in the context of early 19th-century Dutch society? How does a seemingly innocent game board reflect these broader power dynamics? Editor: Well, the steamboat was a relatively new technology, right? So, the game maybe reflects a fascination with progress, or perhaps even anxieties about it? A literal "game-changer"... Curator: Precisely! And think about access to this "progress." Who had the leisure time and economic means to engage with games like this? How does that impact our understanding of what "progress" really meant for the masses? Could this be construed as propaganda celebrating such industrial exploits? Editor: So, this simple game piece is much more than it appears! It's not just a game; it's a sign of the times, suggesting perhaps, a social divide linked to technological advancement. Curator: Exactly. Looking at it this way allows us to critically examine not just the art, but also the social structures that underpinned its creation and consumption. Every element in the composition reveals its historical framework. Editor: I never would have looked that deeply into something that seemed so simple. I’m starting to realize everything has an agenda. Thanks for opening my eyes to the contextual layers at work. Curator: The pleasure is all mine! Art allows us entry to understand cultural values and explore power dynamics in unexpected places, prompting important inquiries of identity, status, and belief.