Fotoreproductie van een tekening door Randolph Caldecott, voorstellend een oude man op schaatsen before 1887

This is a photogravure reproduction of a drawing by Randolph Caldecott, an English artist known for his illustrations, particularly in children's books. The original drawing depicts an old man gleefully ice skating. The image is a window into Victorian England, a society deeply structured by class and gender roles. Caldecott's work often playfully engaged with these social norms, his art was consumed and celebrated within middle and upper-class households, subtly reinforcing their values and ideals. The image hints at narratives of leisure and privilege, enjoyed by the elite during the Victorian era. Consider how the act of portraying an elderly man enjoying winter sports might serve as an appeal to societal values around aging, and perhaps a gentle push against the strict conventions of Victorian society. The man defies expectations of elderliness.