Museum van huisdieren 1848 - 1881

Lutkie & Cranenburg created this print called 'Museum van Huisdieren' or 'Museum of Pets' with etching. Looking at these neatly arranged animals we might ask ourselves what this collection of animals has to do with a museum. Consider the cultural moment in which it was made, perhaps in the Netherlands. By naming this print 'Museum of Pets,' Lutkie and Cranenburg bring the concept of a museum into the domestic sphere. Museums were originally spaces for elites to display trophies of conquest, wealth, and power. But here the artists show us the democratized version of a museum – in your own home. This print isn't just a representation of animals; it reflects how the idea of the museum was changing, becoming more accessible to a wider audience. To fully understand its message, we can delve into Dutch social history, looking at the growth of the middle class and the changing roles of art and institutions. Ultimately, this print invites us to consider how cultural institutions like museums shape our view of the world.