Verheugt u vrij, lieve kleinen, / Op 't feest, dat gij zo goed toch kent / Sint Nicolaas komt u verschijnen / Dus neem de vreugd in deze prent 1894 - 1959

This lithograph, “Verheugt u vrij, lieve kleinen,” is an old print that anticipates the arrival of Sinterklaas – you know, Saint Nick, Santa Claus. It is rendered in a light, playful palette of pastel yellows, greens and reds. I feel the artist, Gordinne, was interested in how stories and images shape our experience of special holidays, like Christmas. This print is divided into sections that chronicle Sinterklaas’s arrival and the anticipation of gifts. Imagine the artist carefully drawing each scene with a lithographic crayon on stone, and the printer inking it up in these gentle, sweet colors. Each little window into this story creates its own unique feeling – like a visual poem. You can see Gordinne’s curiosity about how people gather and celebrate together. We are so lucky that artists like Gordinne explore these shared cultural moments. They’re keeping the conversation going across time, inspiring our creativity.