Stoombootspel, ca. 1823-1829 1823 - 1829

Paulus Emans created "Stoombootspel" around 1823 to 1829, a print that presents us with a fascinating tableau of early 19th-century life, all framed within a grid reminiscent of a board game. The composition is neatly organized into a series of numbered cells, each containing a vignette of daily activities and scenes. Emans employs a delicate linework that gives a sense of order. This structure, however, invites us to consider the relationships between these disparate elements. How do the scenes of labor, leisure, and transit connect within the broader social fabric? The steamboat, prominently positioned, becomes a signifier of modernity and progress. Yet, the game-like structure destabilizes any straightforward reading of progress. This interplay between form and content opens up a dialogue about how we construct and perceive social order and change. "Stoombootspel" invites ongoing interpretation of its components and their potential cultural significance.