Allerlei 1861 - 1929

Andrew Best Leloir created this print, Allerlei, sometime in the mid-19th century. The combination of image and text presents us with something that seems almost like a page torn from a children’s primer. But the scenes and verses are far from innocent. Leloir made this print at a time when debates about national identity were gaining momentum, as nationalism began to take hold across Europe. The scenes depicted are rife with historical and cultural references, inviting viewers to contemplate the meaning of Dutch identity. Consider how gender dynamics play out in the different scenes: there’s a mother and her children and then a scene in which a woman is teaching a man how to paint. What are the values inscribed in these images? Through a combination of image and verse, Allerlei challenges viewers to make meaning. What do these scenes mean for you?