Kinderleven 1822 - 1849

This print, titled "Kinderleven," was made by Alexander Cranendoncq in Amsterdam. It's a wood engraving, a process where the image is carved into a block of wood, inked, and then printed onto paper. Wood engraving is a relief process, meaning the areas that are meant to print are left raised. The print showcases a series of small scenes, likely depicting the different stages of childhood. The blocky, somewhat crude lines are characteristic of wood engraving, a technique often associated with mass production and accessible imagery. It doesn't have the refinement of an etching or engraving on metal. Because of the ease of reproduction, wood engravings like this were often used for illustrations in books, newspapers, and pamphlets, making images and stories available to a wider audience. The work involved in producing these prints was considerable, requiring skilled artisans to meticulously carve the wood blocks. The subject matter is about childhood, but the making of this print is enmeshed in the social context of labor, production, and consumption of images in 19th century Netherlands.