Ziet, kindren hoe men in de jeugd, / Al spelende kan zijn verheugd; / Wilt immer braaf uw pligt betrachten / Dan hebt gij vreugd en heil te wachten 1856 - 1900

Curator: This print by Glenisson & Zonen, dating from 1856 to 1900, is an engraving that seems like a page from a children’s book. What do you make of this charming artwork? Editor: I’m struck by the almost sequential nature of the panels, it reminds me of an early comic strip. I notice figures re-appearing in the scenes. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Well, it’s fascinating how visual narratives evolve! Comic strips borrow much from earlier traditions of emblematic imagery. Each panel operates almost like a rebus, where images and text combine to deliver a moral lesson. The gestures of the children, for example - notice how often pointing is featured - aren't just casual movements, but rather function as visual cues. Are you familiar with emblems? Editor: Not really, other than their vagueness. Should I be thinking of them as symbols of a time, and place? Curator: Exactly! In 19th-century Dutch culture, these panels resonate with broader didactic and religious themes present at the time, particularly focused on instilling values of duty and obedience in youth, look closely at their clothing, a certain social status and respectability is portrayed. Do you think there are parallels with contemporary forms of visual communication aimed at children? Editor: Definitely. Think about educational cartoons today. There are clear ties here, about reinforcing particular behaviours through images. I also see visual similarities in folk art. It seems like this form is trying to define children’s space as being carefully monitored by an adult world. Curator: I agree. Understanding the symbolic context in historical imagery grants us greater understanding about values, social relationships, and memory, particularly relevant as societies grow over time. Editor: This artwork definitely has much to offer on how meanings and values are built over generations using seemingly light-hearted forms!