Zie eens, lieve, graage kindren! wat al kostjens 'k heb bereid; / Tast vry toe; maar wacht u, wacht u, voor de maagre gulzigheid (...).. / Hoe, gy lacht! en waarom lacht gy? geef ik dan geen overvloed? / Maar gy lacht, niet waar? om dat gy met uwe oogen eten moet 1806 - 1830

This print, made by Johan Noman sometime before 1833, presents us with a moral lesson wrapped in the guise of everyday life. The figures, rendered with a charming simplicity, are caught in acts of commerce, charity, and consumption. But beneath this veneer of the quotidian lies a commentary on virtue and vice, particularly greed. The text accompanying the images warns against "maagre gulzigheid" or "meagre gluttony," suggesting a society grappling with issues of scarcity and excess. Consider the gaze invited by the artist. The phrase "Zie eens, lieve, graage kindren!" translates to "Look, dear, willing children!" This directive positions us as pupils in a moral lesson, implicating us in the act of observing and judging. The concluding question — "But you laugh, don't you? Because you must eat with your eyes" — is a potent reminder of our own complicity in the spectacle of desire. Noman’s print serves as a mirror reflecting the social anxieties of its time, yet its message of moderation and mindful consumption resonates even today.