Kinderen wilt u nu verblijen, Met twee en dertig snakerijen 1836 - 1849

D. Lijsen created this print, “Kinderen wilt u nu verblijen, Met twee en dertig snakerijen,” which translates to “Children, rejoice now, with thirty-two jokes.” This Dutch print presents a window into the world of childhood amusements through a series of vignettes. While seemingly simple, the jokes touch on themes of gender roles and social expectations. The repetitive format, with each scene framed identically, suggests a societal structure where children are being prepared to fit into predetermined molds. Yet, there's also an emotional element at play. The act of sharing jokes and riddles can be seen as a form of resistance against the constraints of adulthood. These "snakerijen" may represent a fleeting moment of liberation, a chance for children to playfully subvert the very rules they are expected to internalize. The jokes are not simply innocent entertainment but can be viewed as a means of teaching children how to navigate the complex social world they are about to inherit.