Van al de letters, op de letterlijst gesteld, / Vind ge onder elk de zaak, die u 't afbeeldsel meldt. / Gij kunt o jeugd dan naam daarvan, dus leeren spellen / Of lezen, om hierin nut en vermaak te stellen 1848 - 1881

This undated teaching print by Lutkie & Cranenburg, made with etching and letterpress, presents us with a grid of images, each tied to a letter of the alphabet. The limited color palette and simplistic forms give it a naive, yet structured appearance. Each square operates as a sign, a component in a larger semiotic system designed to educate. The images, rendered in flat planes of color, serve as visual cues meant to evoke specific words and concepts. Notice how the artists employ contrasting colors to define shapes and create visual interest. This interplay of color and form is not merely decorative, but integral to the print’s didactic function. The print challenges fixed meanings. Each image prompts a dynamic process of association and recognition in the viewer. This interplay embodies a philosophical view of knowledge acquisition not as a passive reception, but as an active engagement with visual and linguistic codes.