Kinderschrik / Crocquemitaine 1851 - 1880

This black and white print, titled "Kinderschrik / Crocquemitaine" was created by J.A. Aldag and printed in Amsterdam. The series of panels depict different scenes, each illustrating the actions of the "Kinderschrik" or "Crocquemitaine," figures from folklore used to frighten children into obedience. The imagery draws on historical anxieties around childhood and societal control. We see adults using fear as a disciplinary tool. The figures of Kinderschrik and Croquemitaine, often depicted as grotesque or menacing, embody the anxieties adults project onto children. These images raise questions about power dynamics within families and the emotional landscape of childhood. Are these cautionary tales, or do they reflect a darker side of parenting, one where fear is wielded as a weapon? While seemingly simple, the print opens a window into the complex interplay of fear, control, and imagination in the lives of children.