De geschiedenis van Blauwbaard 1875 - 1903

Jan de Haan created this print titled "De geschiedenis van Blauwbaard," or "The History of Bluebeard" in Dutch. The images are from the classic fairytale about a wealthy man who murders his wives. Prints such as this one would have been popular at a time of rising literacy, and when new printing techniques meant images could be mass produced and inexpensively distributed. These images and the stories they told would have been central to how children were educated and came to understand the world. What is striking about this print is how Bluebeard's violence is normalized, almost presented as slapstick. The story of Bluebeard offers a cautionary tale about female curiosity and obedience, reflecting the patriarchal norms of the time. The story positions women as property, subject to the whims and violence of men.