Jeugd spiegeld uw aan dezen kat / en wilt geen quaat doen leeren / Soo raakt gy niet in groot verdriet / en sult dees straf af keeren 1719 - 1724

This print, whose title translates to "Youth, Model Yourselves on this Cat," was made by the widow Gijsbert de Groot in Amsterdam. It critiques the ways that the social order of the 18th-century Dutch Republic was maintained through violence and moralizing. The print is divided into four scenes, each depicting a different form of animal cruelty, as well as a rhyming moral lesson. These scenes were meant to serve as warnings to children about the consequences of bad behavior. The artist suggests that cruelty to animals is not just a matter of individual actions, but also reflects broader societal attitudes towards power and oppression. The piece challenges traditional representations of childhood innocence by highlighting the potential for cruelty and violence within society. It invites the viewer to consider the emotional dimensions of power and social control, suggesting that the mistreatment of animals is connected to the mistreatment of people.