Vader met kinderen en oude man in een bos en olifanten in landschap 1820

This undated print, whose author is unknown, presents a scene from Jakob Glatz’s “Eduard und Mathilde or Little Stories for Inquisitive Boys and Girls,” published in Frankfurt in 1820. The print provides an interesting glimpse into the cultural values of the time. On the left, we see a family in a European forest, the father figure observing his children with an air of detached contemplation. The setting evokes the Romantic ideal of nature as a space for reflection and moral education. Juxtaposed on the right is a scene with elephants, suggesting a world of exoticism and perhaps, colonial expansion. The imagery can be interpreted within the context of early 19th-century European society, reflecting both its fascination with the natural world and its growing interest in faraway lands. The book itself, aimed at educating young minds, suggests the importance placed on instilling specific social and cultural values. To fully understand the print, we might consult period literature on education, travel narratives, and publications from the publisher, Gebr. Wilmans, all of which would shed light on the artwork’s historical and institutional context.