De mobilisatiekindertjes aan de grenzen before 1919

Willy Sluiter created this image, "De mobilisatiekindertjes aan de grenzen," as a cover for "De Nieuwe Amsterdammer." Sluiter made this image in a time of immense social upheaval, when war was impacting social structures, particularly around gender and class. Here, we see officials surrounding a woman and child. The men, presumably representatives of the state, loom over the mother and child, emphasizing the power dynamics at play. The dog in the image – a symbol of loyalty, often associated with masculinity – stares at the infant. This is a complicated commentary on the crisis of masculinity during wartime. The title translates to "The mobilization children at the borders," highlighting a societal concern about the children born out of wartime liaisons, and the challenges these children and their mothers faced. Sluiter’s image captures the sense of a society grappling with the transformations brought by war, challenging viewers to reflect on the personal stories behind these broad societal shifts.