Deez' Kermis-Prent bevat veel zaken, Om brave Kinderen te vermaken 1828 - 1850

This print, made by Broese & Comp., captures the vibrant spectacle of a Dutch Kermis, or fair, intended ‘to amuse good children.’ These were more than just sites of leisure; they were complex social spaces that both reflected and reinforced societal norms. Notice how the scenes within this print offer a glimpse into the pastimes deemed appropriate for children. There is an emphasis on moral instruction and structured entertainment like the carousel. Yet, we can also read into these images a subtle critique of the era’s rigid social structures. The print presents a world where amusement exists within the confines of expected behavior, subtly questioning those boundaries through the very act of depiction. Consider also the implied audience of this print, children who have the privilege to be amused. What does it mean to curate ‘good’ behavior and provide entertainment, when access to childhood itself was, and still is, shaped by social inequalities? Here we are invited to reflect on childhood, entertainment, and the silent, ever-present shaping hand of society.