Verkiest, o kinderen! uit de onderstaande beelden, / Uw smaak, of zij misschien uw keuze en zinnen streelden / Tachez de faire un choix, enfants, / Dans les sujets de ce présent 1800 - 1833

This print, made by L. Lazare, is a hand-colored engraving. It shows twelve vignettes on a single sheet of paper. The use of engraving, a printmaking technique, suggests a desire to disseminate imagery widely. Each scene is lightly daubed with simple colors – yellow, blue, and red – giving a sense of accessible charm. The visual language here is not one of high art, but rather belongs to the realm of popular imagery. The artist was a ‘negociant in papieren en kantoorbehoeften’, meaning a dealer in paper and office supplies, indicating a commercial context. This tells us that the images were destined for everyday consumption, rather than an elite audience. Look closely, and you'll notice the simplicity of line and form. The scenes appear almost like templates, ready to be filled in with the imagination of the viewer. In its use of accessible materials and making processes, this print exemplifies how art can be deeply embedded in the routines of daily life.