De twaalf maanden 1865 - 1875

George Lodewijk Funke created this print titled "The Twelve Months" sometime in the mid-19th century. In twelve vignettes, Funke depicts seasonal activities: ice skating in January, harvesting in the summer, and celebrating Christmas in December. But this isn’t just a charming scene of Dutch life. These prints were designed for children. They would have offered a primer on the rhythms of the natural world, but also, perhaps, inculcated in young viewers a sense of national identity. It's worth remembering that the Netherlands in the 19th century was in the throes of nation-building. Educational tools like this print could have played a role in shaping a shared cultural understanding. Art historians can look to sources like school curricula, children’s literature, and even popular songs, to better understand the role this print played in shaping young minds during a formative period in Dutch history. The meaning of art is always contingent on its historical context.