Het beestenspel 1903 - 1919

Arie Willem Segboer’s 'Het beestenspel' is a lithograph, probably from the late 19th century, a time when colorful printed images were becoming more widely accessible. The composition is super interesting; it’s like a collage before collage was cool, organizing different scenes from what looks like a zoo or circus. Look at the texture of the paper, its creamy tone showing its age, contrasting with the bright, almost gaudy colours of the animals and people. See how the artist uses line to define the cages, creating a real sense of depth. It reminds me of the way David Hockney would later play with perspective in his photo collages, bending space and time. There's something delightfully unsettling about the way the animals are presented for the children. It speaks to a historical way of viewing animals for entertainment that raises questions about our relationship with the natural world. Like with a lot of folk art, it’s not about perfect representation; it's about capturing a feeling, a mood, a moment.