Kinders hier ziet gy aardig af-geprent / Duyfken en Willemeynkes leven exelent 1725 - 1780

Curator: Looking at this engraving made between 1725 and 1780 by Johannes Kannewet, titled "Kinders hier ziet gy aardig af-geprent / Duyfken en Willemeynkes leven exelent," I’m immediately drawn to the comic strip format. It makes me wonder what narrative this artist is trying to unfold and for whom. Editor: Wow, my first thought? Organized chaos. It's like peering into someone's delightfully bonkers imagination. So many tiny scenes! Is it a story? A dream sequence? I love how everything’s contained, yet the eye just bounces around like a pinball. And are those little pops of color? Curator: Those details are selectively hand-colored. I find it interesting to contextualize this within broader narratives around visual literacy. We often underestimate the sophistication with which the working classes of this period engaged with images like these. Consider that prints were not just decoration; they often served as a form of news, entertainment, or moral instruction, especially for those who may not have been able to read easily. Editor: Moral instruction through… shenanigans? Seriously, look at the second row, third scene – that guy is about to get clocked by a swinging branch! And the little captions beneath each panel are cheeky too. Is this artist a secret comedian or something? There is almost an absurd humour there... it speaks to a deeper message about life, no? Curator: Perhaps. Kannewet’s use of common domestic settings points toward the genre painting tradition, though the layout definitely moves into comic territory, which I feel reflects both changing sensibilities and the wider democratization of print culture in the Netherlands at the time. To appreciate this work, we must contextualize these comic-like illustrations, and remember what political/social/economical moments defined the Dutch society and thus affected Kannewet as well. Editor: Agreed! Now, seeing this piece...I almost feel a challenge to make something new! The artist captured the energy, the wit... the imperfections only make it more precious, no? Thank you Kannewet, for an awesome dive into Dutch history and humour. Curator: It definitely showcases the dynamic way artists like Kannewet used prints to tell stories and offer commentary within their specific historical and cultural context.