Figuren 1869 - 1882

This print by Gerhardus Philippus Zalsman, dating back to the late 19th or early 20th century, presents us with a series of vignettes that capture glimpses of everyday life. Zalsman, who lived through a period of significant social and political change in the Netherlands, offers here reflections of childhood, labor, and leisure. What strikes me about this image is the way it interweaves themes of labor and play, particularly in the scenes depicting children. We see children drawing, ice skating, and pushing wheelbarrows. These images prompt us to consider the social and economic structures that defined childhood during this era. Moreover, the inclusion of women, engaged in both domestic and outdoor activities, speaks to the gender roles and expectations prevalent at the time. Whether these representations reinforce or challenge traditional norms is up to us to decipher. These scenes provide a window into a world where the boundaries between work and play, public and private, were perhaps more permeable than they are today, inviting us to reflect on our own lives and societal values.