Verheugt u vrij, gij, lieve kleinen, / Op 't feest, dat gij zoo goed toch kent. / Sint Nicolaas komt u verschijnen, / Maar neen, de vreugd in deze prent 1850 - 1870

Curator: Look at this lithograph from the mid-19th century, likely around 1850 to 1870. It's titled, "Verheugt u vrij, gij, lieve kleinen, / Op 't feest, dat gij zoo goed toch kent. / Sint Nicolaas komt u verschijnen, / Maar neen, de vreugd in deze prent" which translates to “Rejoice you free, you, dear little ones... Saint Nicholas will appear to you". It comes to us from P.C.L. van Staden & Co., and it's currently in the Rijksmuseum collection. Quite the mouthful, I know. Editor: My first impression? This is so strange and endearing! It looks like a proto-comic strip about St. Nicholas, with that rough-hewn quality lending it so much naive charm. The printing feels almost like a woodcut but not quite. The whole thing has such a folksy vibe. Curator: Yes, it's charming, isn't it? I'm particularly interested in its production. Lithography in this era involved a direct connection between the artist, the stone, and the printing press. This print likely had a relatively large circulation as a means of celebrating Saint Nicolas with verses describing each image intended to teach a moral and bring the occasion home to the families. Editor: The repetitive compositions of each scene contribute to a visual rhythm. Each scene is so simple. And that color scheme... that limited palette of reds and blues. Curator: Precisely! These limited colors likely speak to cost and practicality of creating a mass produced item at the time, think of how accessible prints like these may have been, even for working class families in the Netherlands. They likely offered a vibrant sense of cultural cohesion during this special occasion in their lives. Editor: It's funny to consider what counts as entertainment for kids throughout different historical eras. I mean, my niece would probably laugh if I gave her this "comic." Curator: That contrast is precisely why examining these prints matters! It brings to life what life might have been during those times while offering a look into print and distribution culture. I am very intrigued! Editor: Yeah, stepping back and acknowledging what labor went into creating these for wide-scale appreciation offers insight. Something magical to me!