Dit fraaije prenttafreel stelt, kind'ren, u voor oogen, / Wat men verrigten kan door 't edel kunstvermogen, / Waartoe natuur den mensch zoo menigwerf geleidt, / Wanneer hij kennis paart aan onvermoeide vlijt 1856 - 1858

Editor: This is quite a unique piece! Titled "Dit fraaije prenttafreel stelt, kind'ren, u voor oogen, / Wat men verrigten kan door 't edel kunstvermogen, / Waartoe natuur den mensch zoo menigwerf geleidt, / Wanneer hij kennis paart aan onvermoeide vlijt" created sometime between 1856 and 1858 by P.C.L. van Staden & Co. The medium is lithograph and it currently resides at the Rijksmuseum. I am struck by the arrangement of images and text, almost like a comic book of its time, illustrating technological progress. It seems to have a narrative flow; what stories do you think it tells? Curator: Ah, yes, I find it deeply resonant; like whispers from a time of grand transformation. It's a celebration, isn't it? A whimsical testament to human ingenuity – "noble artistic power" and "untiring diligence," as the text proclaims. But consider the era… This explosion of industry also brought with it profound societal shifts. Do you see any hint of that tension within this seemingly celebratory print? Perhaps in the crowded cityscapes, or the contrast between horse-drawn carriages and the emerging railway? Editor: I hadn't thought about the tension. It feels quite optimistic, almost naïve now, with its direct comparison of progress through time in individual blocks. Curator: Naivete can be a lens too. Remember the Romantics looked to nature and simplicity *because* of this kind of industrial upheaval. Each small vignette becomes a testament to an ever brighter tomorrow! The history is being told, quite literally, through images. Isn't it curious how certain things never really change? Editor: Absolutely. It’s fascinating to consider the dualities at play—celebration versus anxiety, simplicity versus complexity. Curator: Indeed. It speaks volumes, doesn't it? About where we’ve been, and, perhaps, a little bit about where we’re headed.