Schoolmeester c. 18th century

This 18th-century woodcut, titled "Schoolmeester" (meaning "Schoolmaster"), is a humorous depiction of a classroom scene. The artist, who remains anonymous, captures the chaos of a schoolroom with a teacher seated in a chair, holding a young boy's trousers down as another child looks on. The image is filled with detail, revealing objects like a bucket, a stool, and various tools, highlighting the everyday realities of education in the past. The image's small size and simple, yet engaging, style make it a compelling glimpse into historical schooling practices. The piece, now in the Rijksmuseum, is a prime example of the social commentary often found in woodcuts of the time, using humor to highlight the realities of life in the 18th century.