Vragen en antwoorden / Demands et reponses 1856 - 1900

This is an undated print titled "Vragen en antwoorden / Demands et reponses," made by Glenisson & Zonen. Its format – a series of panels pairing an image with a question and answer in two languages – suggests it was made for educational purposes. But what social lessons are being taught here? The scenes depict encounters between people of different ages and social classes. The questions and answers hint at a society defined by economic hardship and social hierarchy. Why is the boy barefoot? Because he can't afford shoes. Why is the mother selling fish? To earn money for her son's education. Why is the farmer wearing a large hat? Because it's the fashion among gentlemen. To fully understand this print, we need to research the Glenisson firm and the publishing industry in the Netherlands or Belgium. We could also investigate the history of education and social class in the region. Art history isn’t just about aesthetics. It's about understanding how images reflect and shape social realities.