Taferelen uit het Oude en Nieuwe Testament 1776 - 1813

This print titled 'Scenes from the Old and New Testament' was made by Johannes Seydel, a bookseller and printer in Leeuwarden, around the late 18th or early 19th century. It reflects the period's social and cultural values, specifically religious belief and its visual representation in printed form. Note how the small scenes from the Bible are ordered in a grid. The printing press and bookshops made such images accessible to a wider public than ever before. They were used as instructional material or as decoration in private homes. We can consider the way the printmaker, Seydel, presented these well-known stories, and compare this to other prints, paintings or even theatrical performances of the time. By studying the distribution of such prints, we can learn more about the role of religion in everyday life, and the ways in which the printing industry catered for that audience.