Elk kind dat zoet ter schoole gaat. / Die leert wat goeds en doet geen kwaad 1850 - 1870

This lithograph, made by Gerrit Oortman around 1800, illustrates scenes of children going to school, each panel a window into their daily routines and moral lessons. Dominating this piece are symbols of education and domestic life; books, teachers, and nurturing parental figures. The act of giving and receiving, seen repeatedly here, echoes motifs present in medieval religious art, depicting saints bestowing knowledge or blessings. We can trace similar gestures back through centuries. Consider the open hand, a symbol of teaching and generosity, versus the closed fist, suggestive of withholding or punishment. The cultural memory embedded in these gestures reflects our collective subconscious association with these acts; we see a parent guiding their child, and we intuitively understand the exchange of knowledge, and authority. The lithograph taps into deeply rooted emotional responses associated with learning, guidance, and societal expectations, reflecting an intense psychological engagement. Observe how these motifs recur—transformed yet recognizable— across time, a cyclical progression echoing humanity’s enduring pursuit of knowledge.