In deeze prent zullen de kinderen kunnen opmerken: dat de aart van elk gewest, en de bijzondere kleeding van elk volk, / de menschen van elkanderen zeer duidelijk doen onderscheiden 1806 - 1830

This print was made in 1815 by Johan Noman, with etching. The composition is strikingly ordered: eight compartments each frame a 'type' of person from different regions. Noman contrasts each figure through dress and context, using line and shadow to denote 'racial' characteristics. The image’s meaning unfolds through a semiotic system of coded signs. Clothing, props, and the built environment act as signifiers of identity and place. Note the stark contrasts, from the 'Englishman' with his fashionable attire and the small house, to the 'African man' with his spear, set against a 'wild' landscape. These constructed images categorize people based on perceived differences. The print encourages a particular reading of human diversity. The artwork serves as a discourse on identity, inviting viewers to contemplate how visual representation constructs difference and reinforces cultural values. The print reflects the historical and philosophical context of the time. It reminds us that meaning is not fixed. It is actively produced through the interplay of image, viewer, and cultural narratives.