Allerafgrijselijkste inspanning van een marmot bij het leren lezen Possibly 1855

This pen drawing, whose title translates to 'The most horrible effort of a marmot when learning to read' was created by August Allebé. Allebé's artwork gives us a glimpse into the experience of a child grappling with literacy in the 19th century. It’s a scene that many of us can connect with. While this image seems innocent, compulsory education in this period was a tool to socialize children into the values of the state. The drawing doesn’t shy away from the struggle, which is clear in the intense concentration etched on the child’s face. We see this echoed in the frantic energy of Allebé’s lines. The artist leaves us wondering about the impact of these early educational experiences in shaping the child’s sense of self and relationship to authority. Ultimately, this drawing encourages us to reflect on our own experiences of learning and how they have influenced our identities.