Het nieuw vermakelijk / ganzenspel / Le nouveau jeu d'Oie 1833 - 1911

Curator: Ah, "Het nieuw vermakelijk ganzenspel / Le nouveau jeu d'Oie," or the new amusing goose game. A print from somewhere between 1833 and 1911, housed right here at the Rijksmuseum! What springs to mind when you see it? Editor: Well, it's definitely giving me decorative vibes. Like something I’d see adorning an old-fashioned game room, not something highbrow. So… What do you make of its somewhat playful and game-like elements? Curator: Ah, my dear, you see the heart of it. Think of it not as "highbrow" but rather as a mirror reflecting the culture of leisure. The game board is set as if it's within colonnades and the goose itself becomes the signifier and guide. Have you played it? What could each colonnade represent, if you were a token hopping your way to the end? Editor: Maybe each space with the goose takes you on the right track and each space without puts you back a square! But the overall feeling, what do you make of its style? Curator: The decorative style, the careful arrangement of imagery... to me, it sings of both artistry and intention. The style and time show an intentionality, not merely a craft... It suggests more, doesn't it? I think there's great importance in popular amusement to the people, the goose in this board showing you exactly that, and its placement in domestic settings. Editor: So it’s more than *just* a pretty picture, but also like a reflection of societal values through leisure and design, very neat! Curator: Precisely! We peel back the layers of ink and paper, and glimpse into the past and minds! Editor: Well, I certainly have a deeper appreciation for the games people once played. I'll be looking at board games differently from now on.