Gevogelten in soort zal deze plaat u toonen! / Uit buitenlandsch gewest, en die in Nêerland wonen / Span u dan nuttig in na de afgelegde taak, / Een kind, dat liefst veel weet, leert zelfs nog door 't vermaak 1827 - 1894

Curator: Editor: This is a print titled "Gevogelten in soort zal deze plaat u toonen!" made sometime between 1827 and 1894. It depicts lots of little drawings of birds! It seems intended for kids. What do you make of this piece? Curator: Well, considering this artwork from a socio-historical lens, it unveils interesting perspectives on education and cultural values of the time. We have children and a strong imperative of learning with fun - "leert zelfs nog door 't vermaak." What assumptions do we make about that historical period if children's books looked like this? Editor: I suppose that childhood then might have involved quite a bit of didactic learning! The image reminds me of a science textbook with an older sensibility. The different species neatly arranged... Were prints like these common teaching tools at the time? Curator: Yes, these prints were very popular and represent an interesting intersection of education, art, and print culture. Each bird is meticulously labeled with an accompanying verse, imbuing it with cultural significance, didactic message, or even social commentary. How might that have shaped the ways children perceived the world around them? Editor: It really prompts consideration of the values that were being passed on through this seemingly simple educational tool. What a multi-layered approach to learning and observing nature! Thank you. Curator: Indeed. And understanding these layers offers valuable insights into the period’s intellectual and social landscape. We can see art as more than just an aesthetic object and something with tangible connections to real historical context.