Het uilenbord / Jeu de la chouette 1833 - 1911

This board game, made by Brepols & Dierckx Zoon, is printed on paper. The game features a circular track adorned with colorful illustrations and symbols, surrounding an owl and a mirror at the center. This lithographic print embodies the democratization of imagery brought about by industrialization. The printing press allowed for mass production, making visual culture accessible to a broader public beyond the elite. The game's playful combination of chance and skill mirrors the dynamics of a burgeoning consumer society. Each throw of the dice represents a transaction, a gamble on fortune. The colorful design and symbolic imagery are all intended to entice players, reflecting the strategies employed by businesses to capture consumers' attention. The material and production processes themselves become part of the game's narrative, embodying the spirit of commerce and leisure in the industrial age.