De lieve kleinen 1881

Editor: This is "De lieve kleinen," or "The Dear Little Ones," a watercolor from 1881 by De Ruyter & Meijer. It's a print showing nine little scenes of children. It's quaint, and a bit silly! How do you interpret these little vignettes? Curator: The very title frames our interpretation, doesn't it? The “dear little ones." The image, reproduced as a print, was clearly meant for mass consumption. Considering the period, late 19th century, the rise of mass media and changing perceptions of childhood are key. These children aren’t simply being documented; they're being presented as an idea, perhaps a reflection on the ideal childhood? What societal norms do you think these images might be reinforcing, or perhaps subverting? Editor: Hmm, the children are all white, mostly engaged in playing or imitating adult activities, some getting into mischief. I guess it’s reinforcing middle-class values by depicting how children are raised, reflecting certain societal norms about innocence but also playful rebellion within the confines of domesticity? Curator: Precisely. Notice the clear class distinctions inherent in the implied access to clothing, props, leisure time itself! And what of the “mischief?” The staged barber shop, the costuming. Doesn’t this imply a degree of freedom, even a tacit acceptance of childhood disruptions that wouldn’t be afforded to working-class children of that era? It's the 'charming' disruption of privileged domestic space. What do you think the presence of this print in homes did to children’s sense of themselves? Editor: That’s a fascinating question! I hadn't considered how it might affect children themselves. I see that there is complexity in a single page. Curator: Indeed. Mass media is always a product and reflection of its era. Now, if we look closely at the methods of artistic reproducibility used at this time… Editor: That will take me some extra time to consider! Thanks for that shift in perspective.