O hoe edel is het kind, / Dat tot deugden is gezind! 1820 - 1848

This color etching was made by Christiaan Jacob Schuyling, likely in the Netherlands at the beginning of the 19th century. The series of images depict scenes of children behaving virtuously. The title translates to "Oh how noble is the child who is inclined to virtues!" It's a moralizing message, meant to educate and shape children's behavior. Looking closer, we see visual codes of the time: modest clothing, domestic settings, and children helping each other and their elders. Institutions like schools and the church played a significant role in shaping social values at this time. Books, prints, and other media were produced to instill the values of hard work, obedience, and piety. It is worth asking if this print is challenging social norms or reinforcing them? Is it aimed at wealthy children, or does it address the working class? An art historian might research the publishing industry of the time, popular literature for children, and the role of the church in education to understand better the social context of this print.