De drie beren 1850 - 1881

Curator: This print, "De drie Beren," or "The Three Bears," created between 1850 and 1881 by Dirk Noothoven van Goor, uses graphic art to tell a narrative. Editor: It looks like a comic strip version of Goldilocks and the Three Bears! It's sweet and old-fashioned. What strikes you most about it? Curator: I immediately consider how this artwork reinforces social structures. Think about it – a female child trespasses into the home of the bear family, disrupting their domestic space. How do you think gender plays a role in interpreting this narrative? Editor: Well, Goldilocks is clearly disrupting the established order, acting without permission in a male-dominated space… even though the bears seem to live as a family. Is she being presented as empowered, or as a cautionary tale? Curator: Exactly! Is she a rebel or a menace? Consider, too, the cultural context. This piece emerges during a time of increasing literacy and a growing market for children’s literature. What values are being subtly instilled in young readers through this seemingly innocent tale? Do you think that this form of art serves the function of reinforcing certain behavioral norms? Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way, as social conditioning! But yes, representing the story as a cute comic normalizes it and almost invites the reader to consider Goldilocks' actions from the bear's perspective. Curator: It's fascinating how a seemingly simple image can reflect deeper societal dynamics and power relations. It challenges us to consider art as a mirror and a constructor of social norms. Editor: This conversation definitely makes me look at children's stories with a much more critical and analytical eye. Thank you!