De vischvangst 1903 - 1919

Arie Willem Segboer made this lithograph titled ‘De Vischvangst’ or ‘The Catching of Fish’ as part of a series of ‘New Dutch Children’s Prints.’ The image shows us several different scenes of fisherfolk at work and at play. They show a range of social classes and ages engaged in the popular pastime. Note how the image is structured as a collage of snapshots. This suggests that the image is less about an idealised scene than about documenting a social reality. The print dates back to a time of rapid social change in the Netherlands. As the country industrialised and modernised, there was a growing interest in depicting everyday life. Prints like this, aimed at children, played a role in shaping ideas about national identity. To understand the work fully, we might look at other examples of children's literature from the period, popular entertainments, or changing social norms. Artworks such as this one are best understood in their specific social and institutional context.