Uilenspel 1795 - 1819

Jacobus Wendel produced this print, titled Uilenspel, which translates to 'Owl Game', in Amsterdam. Though undated, its style situates it within the tradition of Dutch emblem books and broadsides, popular forms of visual communication in the 17th and 18th centuries. The image presents a game board, featuring an owl, a traditional symbol of folly, at its center. Surrounding the owl are various symbols and images arranged in concentric circles. These aren’t merely decorative; they serve as visual cues within the game. The text below the image provides instructions, suggesting that the game involved chance and perhaps social interaction. Prints like this circulated widely, serving not only as entertainment but also as vehicles for social commentary. By examining similar prints, game rules from the period, and social histories of leisure in the Netherlands, we can begin to understand the nuances of this particular game and its place in the broader culture. After all, the meaning of art, even something as seemingly simple as a game, is always contingent on its social and institutional context.