Dit wild en tam gediert, en vogels schoon van veeren, Zijn om u, o jeugd, het A, B, C. te leeren 1806 - 1830

Curator: Here we have "Dit wild en tam gediert, en vogels schoon van veeren, Zijn om u, o jeugd, het A, B, C. te leeren" which translates roughly to "These wild and tame animals, and birds fair of feathers, are to teach you, o youth, the ABCs." This engraving is by Johan Noman, dating from 1806 to 1830. Editor: My immediate impression is one of organized chaos. The grid of animals feels very orderly, but the variety and stylistic choices are almost overwhelming. The rigid square boxes try to contain the wild nature. Curator: Yes, I'd agree. Let's look at how the shapes are defined through fairly simple lines and patterns. The cross-hatching creates volume and shadow. It's almost a pedagogical exercise in itself: using simple graphic techniques to depict a range of forms. Editor: Thinking of its function as a children’s educational print also affects my impression. Each animal functions almost as a little political emblem – a way of conveying an assumed natural hierarchy and, by extension, a social order. Did children even find these creatures exciting, or was the image only used as some strict disciplinary tool? Curator: Discipline, in a moral sense, was likely part of it. However, observe how the engravings give similar attention to fabulous and real creatures. Unicorns get the same treatment as, say, camels or horses, implying an equality in this world of instruction. This visual consistency is striking, perhaps inviting imaginative interpretations. Editor: Good point, that's where a subversive educational message might come into play: children may learn how bestiaries also help form knowledge structures. How animals symbolize broader cultural values. Curator: The stark black lines set against the pale paper have such clarity, like simple truths themselves. These creatures almost float in their tiny squares. I leave pondering that simple clarity alongside the image’s many other potential meanings. Editor: Absolutely, a fascinating blend of didacticism and delightful oddity from the vantage point of today's complex visual educational mediums!