Kinderdeugden 1844

Curator: This is "Kinderdeugden," or "Children's Virtues," an 1844 engraving by Jan Schuitemaker. It’s a fascinating piece, and I find the repetitive imagery of these little vignettes quite compelling. What's your initial take? Editor: Well, it seems very didactic, almost like a series of moral lessons aimed at children. I'm interested in the engraving technique itself. What can you tell me about how its materiality connects to its message? Curator: Certainly. As a print, and more specifically an engraving, it allowed for mass production and distribution. Consider the labor involved: a skilled engraver meticulously carving lines into a metal plate, reversing the image to create reproducible illustrations. These images would have been incorporated into a magazine circulated amongst children and adults alike to showcase examples of good virtuous children. Given the societal context of mid-19th century Europe, it provided visual and textual tools to inform children how they ought to be to uphold moral principles. What do you make of this method of teaching children? Editor: It makes me think about how moral values are literally imprinted, or engraved, onto children. Was this a common form of dissemination? Were there other kinds of pedagogical material available at the time, besides this print medium? Curator: Yes, broadsides and inexpensive books were other options, but engravings like these offered visual appeal that text alone lacked. It’s intriguing to consider how the visual culture of the time shaped ideas of childhood, right? Editor: It really is. Thinking about the mass production and distribution changes my perspective; the value isn't just in the artistry but in the message and the mechanics behind how it reached its audience. Curator: Precisely. Considering the means of production opens up a whole new avenue of appreciation and understanding.