Nieuwe straetgeroepen 1833 - 1911

Editor: This delightful print, "Nieuwe straetgeroepen," produced sometime between 1833 and 1911 by Brepols & Dierckx zoon, features a grid of charming figures. There's a real storybook quality to it, but I’m curious about its context. How do you interpret this work, especially considering its potential as folk art? Curator: This piece offers a glimpse into the visual culture of its time. Think about the rise of industrialization and urbanization during the 19th century. Prints like this, depicting everyday street vendors and laborers, catered to a growing urban audience eager to understand and perhaps romanticize the changing social landscape. It presents almost a social catalog, doesn't it? What does this ordering suggest to you? Editor: That’s fascinating. The grid does seem like an attempt to categorize or understand different roles within society. Were these images intended for a particular audience or purpose, beyond just simple entertainment? Curator: Absolutely. Consider the power of printed imagery during this period. These images could have been used for educational purposes, perhaps teaching children about different occupations. They could also have served as a form of social commentary, subtly reinforcing or challenging existing hierarchies. Think about the context of early mass media and the development of a visual language to express a culture and a society. It becomes very powerful. Editor: I never thought of it that way, but that makes so much sense. The print becomes more than just a quaint depiction of daily life, but a commentary of societal construction and observation. Curator: Exactly. And by analyzing the specific types of figures included—and those excluded—we can gain valuable insights into the social values and anxieties of the time. Editor: Wow, I’ve definitely learned to see it with new eyes, and a lot more questions too! Curator: Me too! And that’s often the best result when we look at art.