Een groote reis 1876 - 1890

Curator: This lithograph, "Een groote reis," dating from 1876 to 1890, presents a series of vignettes depicting children’s play. It's striking how it lays out a clear narrative progression across a single image. Editor: It feels very...storybook-like. Almost like a comic strip before comics, printed on paper. It depicts two children as they pretend to journey together. What stands out to me is how the actions in each frame seemingly influence those in the following frame. What's your interpretation of the sequence of events portrayed? Curator: It prompts us to consider the social constructs inherent in play, particularly during the late 19th century. Note the power dynamics. He is "leading" with a whip, a clear symbol of authority and control. Consider, also, the depiction of the doll – who does it represent in their play? Are they re-enacting domestic scenes or mimicking roles they see enacted around them? How might these childhood enactments contribute to the formation of gendered expectations later in life? Editor: That's a very astute observation about the doll. I hadn't considered how that small detail could indicate so much about the societal expectations placed on them. And that the boy is leading is clearly not an accident! Is this meant to be a critique or just a slice of life? Curator: The artist’s intention is elusive, as are the artist details. But even without definitive answers, these images reflect accepted behaviours. This lithograph serves as a valuable record. It invites us to question the repetition of historical patterns in the present. Is power being equitably distributed now, I wonder, versus in 1880? How has this changed - or has it? Editor: It is sobering to consider. Looking at it now through that lens gives it such a different feeling. It makes you think about things that might otherwise go unnoticed. Curator: Indeed, and by looking closely and asking these questions, we can hopefully use this print to have necessary, ongoing, difficult, but vital, conversations about how our societies function.