Kinderdeugden en gebreken 1865 - 1875

George Lodewijk Funke created “Children’s Virtues and Vices No. 99,” as one of a series of New Dutch Children’s Prints. This black and white lithograph encapsulates the rigid social expectations placed upon children in the 19th century. Through a series of vignettes, Funke constructs a world where children are expected to be industrious, obedient, and quiet. Yet, there are those who shirk responsibility, make noise, or play when they should be working. The virtues are intertwined with gendered expectations; the girls assist in domestic chores, while boys are expected to study and learn a trade. The children depicted maintain traditional roles which are not only conservative, but which reinforce the social order of the time. Each scene serves as a moral lesson, teaching children their place in society and the consequences of deviance. In its didactic tone, this artwork reflects the societal values of 19th-century Netherlands, revealing how deeply ingrained notions of gender and class were taught from a young age.