Visschen 1850 - 1881

Editor: So, this is "Visschen" by Dirk Noothoven van Goor, dating from 1850 to 1881. It's a print, seemingly an engraving on what looks like aged paper. The composition with multiple fish and accompanying text gives it a really antique feel. What strikes you most about the context and production of a piece like this? Curator: Immediately, I think about the printing process. Engravings were laborious, involving highly skilled artisans. This wasn’t simply about artistic expression but also about skilled labor, a specific production method designed to circulate knowledge, hence the magazine format “PRENTEN-MAGAZIJN VOOR DE JEUGD”. What sort of access to education, information, and printing techniques did the general population have at the time? The print served as both educational material and a commodity. How does its mass production intersect with notions of 'high' art? Editor: That's interesting, the educational angle! I guess I hadn’t considered the social impact of distributing accessible knowledge in this form. Curator: Precisely. This print wasn’t destined for a museum wall, right? So, consider its intended audience: children. The "historical font," to use one of our tag words, feels purposeful here. The labor of creating these fonts reflects decisions about how it would be used, read, and even understood by younger readers. Does the medium—the printed page—itself contribute to the message being conveyed? Editor: I hadn't thought about it like that before, seeing the print not just as an image but also as a product of its time, a tool even. It really shifts the focus. Curator: Exactly. Looking at the print through the lens of production and distribution can help to unearth deeper cultural insights. It wasn’t only about artistic skill but involved labor, materials, market forces, and its consumers – youth! Editor: Well, thanks! It has given me lots to think about regarding the materiality and intent behind such printed artwork.