Kindren, om uw' geest te scherpen, tot uw oefning, tot uw vlijt, / Wordt u, door de kindervrienden, weêr een nieuwe prent gewijd / Leert door Dorus de ondeugd vlieden: - volgt Filippus, vroeg en sla; / Achting, eer en hulp van menschen volgen brave kindren na 1831 - 1854

This moral print, made by Erve H. Rynders in Amsterdam, employs engraving – a reproductive medium – to disseminate its message. Engraving, unlike drawing or painting, is inherently about multiplication and distribution, which has ramifications. The choice of this medium speaks volumes about the artwork's intended audience and purpose. By its nature, engraving allows for the widespread dissemination of ideas and values, echoing concerns of labor, politics, and consumption. Here, the fine lines and precise details possible with engraving serve to illustrate a series of moral tales. Each scene, carefully rendered and neatly arranged, imparts lessons of virtue and the dangers of vice. This emphasis on clarity and order mirrors the didactic intent of the print, aiming to instill discipline and moral rectitude in its viewers. Ultimately, the choice of engraving is integral to the print’s social function, emphasizing its role as a tool for education and moral instruction. It is a reminder that the meaning of an artwork is deeply intertwined with its materials, methods, and its context.