Vermaak en leering zaam te paaren, / Is zeker dikwyls vol bezwaren; / Doch die daartoe zyn beste doet, / Diens werk is altyd soortlyk goed 1806 - 1830

This uncut printing sheet was made by Johan Noman in the Netherlands, sometime before 1833. Its old Dutch text translates to “To combine entertainment and learning, is certainly often full of difficulties; but he who does his best for it, his work is always of good quality.” This sheet, filled with a grid of small scenes, offers a glimpse into the era’s aspirations for education and morality. The figures, frozen in their neat little boxes, reflect a society grappling with new ideas about the roles of men and women, and the importance of instilling virtue. But consider the constraints of such prescribed narratives. Who was included, and who was left out, in this vision of 'good quality' work and life? The artist offers us a carefully curated world, yet one can’t help but wonder about the voices and perspectives that remain unheard within these neat little frames. It's a reminder that even in art meant for education and entertainment, the choices of what to show—and what to omit—can speak volumes.