Prettige avonturen 1875 - 1903

This Dutch children's print, made by Jan de Haan, presents a series of small narrative scenes accompanied by text. Immediately, the visual symbols and iconography present in these scenes strike us. Consider the image of the snake, a potent symbol appearing as a threat to a fleeing figure. This motif—the serpent as an emblem of danger and temptation—reverberates across cultures and epochs. From the Garden of Eden to ancient Greek mythology, the snake embodies primal fears and subconscious desires, surfacing time and again to provoke a deep, emotional response. Note the use of gestures throughout. In one scene, a character points accusingly, conveying blame and moral judgment. Such gestures carry significant emotional weight, tapping into our shared understanding of human interaction and judgment, reflecting the complexities of social dynamics. The cyclical progression of the snake is emblematic; an ancient symbol, it resurfaces, evolving to take on new meanings across time.