Weer zes en dertig nieuwe prentjes, / 't zyn jongens, meisjes, wyfjes, ventjes, / Van mode en smaak, voor 't eerst in 't licht, / Ten dienst van 't leervak ingerigt 1781 - 1828

This print, published by Jan Hendriksen, presents thirty-six small scenes featuring boys, girls, women, and men. Each figure holds a prominent, cloud-like shape, rendered in striking red. These forms suggest a universal symbol: the heart. Throughout history, the heart, beyond its biological function, has represented love, courage, and emotional depth. Consider its presence in ancient Egyptian iconography, where it was weighed in the afterlife, or its medieval association with courtly love. Here, these hearts might signify the various human experiences—love, loss, ambition—that connect us across time. Notice how the heart’s shape varies slightly in each scene. Is this perhaps a reflection of how our feelings adapt to different circumstances, evolving yet remaining fundamentally recognizable? Ultimately, this simple print captures the enduring human fascination with emotion and the heart’s ability to symbolize our deepest feelings, an iconographic journey ever-changing, and always returning to its source.