Beeldverhaal met vogels 1811 - 1873

Pieter van Loon made this pen and brown ink drawing called 'Beeldverhaal met vogels' sometime in the 19th century. In Dutch, 'Beeldverhaal' means comic strip or cartoon. These panels of anthropomorphic birds, rendered in a simple illustrative style, recall the satirical prints of the time, which were widely circulated and commented on social and political issues. Van Loon's birds seem to be acting out scenes of everyday human life in the Netherlands. Consider the institutional context: Was this intended as a private amusement, or was Van Loon hoping to publish these images? Perhaps these bird-people are a kind of commentary on Dutch society. The historian might look at the political and social conditions of the time, researching popular imagery and printed ephemera. It is through this historical context that the meaning of 'Beeldverhaal met vogels' becomes clear.