Het groot raadselspel (eenig in zyn zoort.) 1781 - 1800

“Het groot raadselspel (eenig in zyn zoort.)” – or “The Great Riddle Game (unique in its kind)” – is a print made by S. & W. Koene, which presents a series of visual puzzles. These images offer us a window into the cultural and intellectual life of its time. What does it mean to engage with a “riddle game” in this historical moment? Games, and riddles, are never innocent. They teach us how to think, what to value, and how to see the world. The scenes depicted invite us to decipher their meanings, reflecting a society deeply invested in moral and intellectual pursuits. The riddles themselves range from everyday scenarios to allegorical scenes, suggesting a desire to find meaning in both the mundane and the extraordinary. This act of interpretation reflects broader societal values, where knowledge and understanding were highly prized. These puzzles may not offer easy answers, but invite us to consider the values, beliefs, and cultural context that shaped their creation. By engaging with these riddles, we gain insights into the world of those who created and solved them, and the kind of cultural work these images were designed to do.