Wat moet gij worden 1850 - 1881

Curator: This lithograph, dating from between 1850 and 1881, is entitled "Wat moet gij worden," which translates to "What shall you become?" by Dirk Noothoven van Goor. It feels like a…sampler of sorts. Editor: My first impression is one of faded colours, and miniature scenes of everyday lives from a long time ago. The palette gives a melancholy tone. Curator: Indeed. The format with individual panels of figures enacting various trades - a soldier, a tailor, a hunter - reminds me of traditional emblem books. Each scene, accompanied by a descriptive poem, encapsulates both practical and moral guidance. Think of them as symbols shaping not only choices, but destiny itself. Editor: Focusing on the materiality, I wonder about the scale of production of something like this, as the individual panels indicate meticulous crafting, suggesting small workshops perhaps catering to a rising merchant or educated class interested in investing in didactic home décor. The very act of producing prints like this created a whole ecosystem. Curator: Absolutely. Beyond mere functionality, these occupational emblems acted as cultural scripts. For example, depicting women primarily as bakers or seamstresses reinforces predefined gender roles. The print becomes a site for negotiating social identities. Editor: And these traditional media such as graphic art allowed widespread dissemination, becoming cultural artifacts, consumed, discussed, and passed down within family and social networks. They are so unlike solitary canvases made for a wealthy elite, since such printed forms actively shape societal attitudes. Curator: Reflecting upon “Wat moet gij worden”, it acts as a poignant echo of aspiration, cultural norms, and artistic intention all crystallized within lithographic ink on paper. Editor: This print, analyzed as material culture, invites me to consider how the labor and artistry invested reflect not just what trades existed but what value was placed on various forms of work and ways of life.