Komt hier nu Kinders reyn / en lees dees Vogels al / Gy hebt met groot en kleyn / hier honderd in 't getal. 1739 - 1786

Editor: This woodcut, “Komt hier nu Kinders reyn / en lees dees Vogels al / Gy hebt met groot en kleyn / hier honderd in 't getal,” by Jan van Lee, was made sometime between 1739 and 1786. It features numerous little squares, each depicting different types of birds, and the effect is a little like a birdwatching puzzle book. I wonder, what story does this print tell us about its time? Curator: Indeed! What we see is not just a charming depiction of birds, but a window into the 18th-century Dutch engagement with the natural world, specifically through the lens of a developing print culture aimed at children. Note the text accompanying each image – this functions as a kind of proto-didactic material. The print’s distribution likely depended on a network of local merchants and paper sellers catering to an emerging middle class. Do you think this points to a democratization of knowledge? Editor: That's a great point. The use of print certainly suggests wider access to information than, say, a unique painting only the wealthy could see. And its educational aspect implies an investment in childhood learning within that society. Curator: Precisely! And consider the public role of art here. Van Lee’s print doesn't just decorate; it instructs and entertains. It brings nature indoors, albeit in a controlled, categorized fashion, shaped by social priorities. Can you see how the medium itself helps us understand this artwork? Editor: Absolutely. The print form enables mass production, accessibility, and an educational function – factors crucial for understanding its role in society. Curator: It is so interesting to consider art not in isolation, but embedded in specific historical, cultural, and social environments, isn't it? Editor: Definitely, looking at it as more than just a picture really opens up what you can learn. I’ll never look at an old print the same way again!