Verkiest, ô kinderen! uit de onderstaande beelden, / Uw smaak, of zy misschien uw keuze en zinnen streelden 1806 - 1830

This print by Johan Noman, titled "Verkiest, ô kinderen! uit de onderstaande beelden," or "Choose, oh children! from the images below," was made using engraving, a process involving carving lines into a metal plate to hold ink. The sharp, graphic quality of the print, with its crisp lines and clear contrasts, results directly from this technique. Each character and scene is meticulously rendered, reflecting the labor-intensive nature of engraving. This was a medium often used for commercial purposes, to disseminate information widely. The very act of choosing, presented in the title, makes one think of the marketplace. Noman was a book printer who made many of these kinds of prints, for mass consumption. Each scene would have served as a reminder for children about everyday life and morals. This work reminds us that even seemingly simple images are embedded in broader social and economic contexts.