Palmpasen before 1845

Dirk Jurriaan Sluyter created this print, Palmpasen, which translates to Palm Sunday, and depicts a Dutch tradition. This intimate scene provides a window into 19th-century Dutch family life and religious customs. The print shows children offering decorated branches to an older woman, likely a grandmother, who sits outside her home. These branches, adorned with paper ornaments, sweets, and sometimes bread, are part of the Palm Sunday celebration, marking the arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem. What strikes me is how the artist captures the intergenerational exchange and transmission of cultural values. We can imagine this print gracing the walls of middle-class homes, reinforcing ideals of piety, family bonds, and national identity. Yet, it also invites us to consider the role of children in perpetuating traditions, and the nuanced power dynamics within families. The scene evokes feelings of nostalgia, longing for simpler times, and the comfort of belonging to a close-knit community. In celebrating Palmpasen, Sluyter’s print reflects and shapes Dutch society’s collective memory and shared identity.