Het leven van den kleinen William Robinson, een jongen, welke by zyne ouders niet wilde oppassen [(...)] 1831 - 1854

This undated print, made by Erve H. Rynders in Amsterdam, visualizes the story of William Robinson in a series of twelve scenes. The images tell a moral tale. We see young William being dropped off on a desert island by a captain, presumably as punishment for disobedience. He then learns to survive alone, later finding a woman and child. Eventually, he is rescued and returns home a changed man, welcomed by his parents. This print reflects the Dutch Republic's emphasis on domesticity and family values. The story serves as a cautionary tale against youthful rebellion, reinforcing social norms. The inclusion of exotic locales also speaks to the era’s burgeoning colonial interests and the romanticized, yet often problematic, view of distant lands. To understand this work better, one could research the history of Dutch children's literature and the socio-economic context of Amsterdam in the 18th and 19th centuries. Art, as always, gains deeper meaning when we explore its social and institutional origins.