Kinderen rond een kijkkast 1878

S. Dejour’s etching, "Kinderen rond een kijkkast," captures a slice of life, inviting us to consider the intersections of entertainment, commerce, and social interaction. The print depicts children gathered around a peepshow box, a popular form of entertainment that emerged in the 18th century and allowed viewers to glimpse exotic or sensational scenes. These shows were often presented by traveling showmen and became a feature of fairs and public gatherings. We can only imagine the stories these children are seeing, but their rapt attention speaks to the allure of visual narratives. The presence of the showman, standing guard over his box, suggests the entrepreneurial spirit of the time, but also speaks to the dynamic between those who control the means of representation and those who consume it. What do they learn from these shows? How does it shape their understanding of the world? What does it mean for children to be so readily exposed to spectacles crafted for public consumption? It’s a reminder of how our perceptions can be shaped by the images we are shown, raising questions about the nature of seeing and believing.