Nieuw prentkundig ABC voor lieve kinderen, met toepasselyke versjes 1856 - 1900

This alphabet print, made by an artist signing only as JZ, was created for children, using a technique called ‘prentkundig’, which means something like ‘pictorial.’ The print’s visual impact derives from the distinct qualities of the printing process. Look at the use of line, and how it defines the forms of the figures and objects. Notice the flat areas of color that have been added, probably by hand, within those lines. This combination of reproducible image and manual intervention speaks volumes about the era in which it was made. During this period, images were becoming more widely available thanks to mechanical reproduction, but still retained the mark of handcraft. The subject matter also reflects the social context. Images of beggars, jugglers, and rope dancers weren’t high art, but rather a vernacular form made accessible to a wide audience, including children, through print. In this ABC, materials and processes are integral to the artwork’s meaning, blurring the lines between fine art and everyday craft.