Hans en Grietje 1828 - 1937

This is a chromolithograph print of Hansel and Gretel, made by Oehmigke and Riemschneider. These images, arranged in sequence, present a moral tale in a highly conventionalized form. Looking at the clothing, we can deduce that this print originated in Germany, in the late 19th or early 20th century. It presents an idealized vision of childhood rooted in folk tradition. The narrative of children abandoned by their parents and menaced by a witch speaks to the anxieties of a rapidly industrializing society where traditional family structures were being disrupted. The image offers a conservative model of familial piety. This print likely served an explicitly didactic purpose, teaching children to be obedient and God-fearing. These publishers produced images that circulated widely, shaping popular understandings of morality. By examining publishers' archives and studying the circulation of images like this, historians can better understand the social function of art. This artwork teaches us how cultural values and social norms were communicated to a wide audience.