Klein Duimpje en de Gelaarsde kat c. 1822 - 1849

Jan de Lange II created "Klein Duimpje en de Gelaarsde kat", a print, at an unknown date. The work presents twelve vignettes arranged in a grid, each illustrating a scene from the fairy tales "Hop-o'-My-Thumb" and "Puss in Boots". Notice how the artist uses a limited palette of muted blues, yellows, and browns to create a sense of cohesion across the grid, while simple linework defines the forms and figures within each scene. The structure, defined by the grid, organizes the narratives into a sequence, yet each frame operates independently, asking us to piece together the stories through their visual relationships. The formal layout reflects an era of emerging mass media, and evokes a sense of narrative control and dissemination. The use of distinct frames echoes philosophical shifts towards compartmentalized knowledge and the ordering of information, typical of the Enlightenment era. This work embodies the intersection of aesthetics and emerging print culture.