Ziet hier wat jonge knapen spelen, / Hun oefening zal uw niet verveelen. / Volgt jeugd! in alles hun bedrijf; / Maar, dat 'er 't misbruik buiten blijf 1806 - 1830

This print was made in 1816 in the Netherlands by Johan Noman using etching. It depicts twelve scenes of boys playing with toys and games such as hobby horses, kites, and drums. Prints like this were relatively cheap to produce and were sold to the growing middle class. As a result, the image provides a window into the everyday culture of the Dutch Golden Age and into the social expectations around childhood and play. The inscription that reads "Follow youth in all their business, but let the abuse remain outside" suggests an ambivalent attitude toward play, which at the time was seen as important to the healthy development of young men, but also a potential distraction from work and duty. As art historians, we can look more closely into the socio-economic context in which this print was made. Research into the publishing industry and the history of childhood education could reveal more about the artist's intentions and his audience. The image is thus a reminder that the meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.