Het nieuw vermakelijk ganzenspel / Le nouveau jeu d'oie 1833 - 1856

Editor: This charming lithograph, “Het nieuw vermakelijk ganzenspel / Le nouveau jeu d'oie,” by Glenisson & Van Genechten, dates to the mid-19th century. It's actually a board game! It’s visually quite intriguing with the geese circling the edge. As a historian, what’s your take on this as a piece of cultural history? Curator: It’s fascinating! Board games are a fantastic lens through which to view social dynamics and popular culture. Considering that it dates back to the mid-19th century, do you notice any clues about the dominant ideology being presented through game format? Editor: Well, the game pieces seem to show aspects of everyday life – a forge, a tavern… common settings for ordinary folks, perhaps? Curator: Exactly. And the fact that it's a game about geese. Consider the role of the goose within popular visual culture at this time, perhaps symbolic of certain kind of foolishness? How might that have resonated with contemporary audiences? Editor: I hadn't considered the geese as possibly more symbolic! Does the inclusion of text in both Dutch and French hint at the social status or geographic relevance? Curator: Absolutely! The bilingual text suggests a target audience in a region with both Dutch- and French-speaking populations, perhaps indicating political factors or a desire for wider accessibility. It's indicative of a specific cultural and socio-political environment, where language and commerce were intertwined. What does it suggest about its possible location and status as an appealing social opportunity to its players? Editor: It definitely provides insights beyond just leisure; it shows accessibility and societal values, presented cleverly in this decorative game. Curator: Precisely! We see not only a game, but a tiny window into the past and it teaches how popular art shapes society's norms.