Inhoudpagina voor: Vaderlandsche Kermisvreugd vertoond in acht kunstplaaten geteekend en gegraveerd door K.F. Bendorp, met toepasselijke Vaersjes door R. Arends, H. de Haas en Compagnie (uitgever) Dordrecht 1782 1782

Carel Frederik Bendorp created this title page in 1782 for a series of prints called "Vaderlandsche Kermisvreugd," or roughly translated, "Patriotic Fairground Merriment". It was published in Dordrecht. The series captures the vibrant, sometimes chaotic, atmosphere of Dutch fairs during a period of significant social and political change. Fairs were spaces where social classes mixed, traditions were celebrated, and alternative narratives could bubble to the surface. The list of fair attractions which are featured on this title page: the hurdy-gurdy man, the performing artist, the singer, all the way to a magic lantern theatre, give you a glimpse into this world. Bendorp’s work offers insight into the period’s popular entertainment and the construction of Dutch identity through communal festivities. These were not simply leisure activities. They were opportunities for cultural expression and social commentary. The "Kermisvreugd" prints reflect the intersection of entertainment, identity, and societal values during a transformative period in Dutch history.