Komt hij ons, met zijn muts en bellen [(...)] 1861 - 1929

This undated print by Albertus Willem Sijthoff, held at the Rijksmuseum, forms part of a series entitled "New Dutch Children's Prints". These prints were designed to be both educational and entertaining, reflecting the 19th-century Dutch society's values regarding childhood and learning. The visual codes here are particularly interesting. Each scene presents a snippet of Dutch life, rendered in a style that's both accessible and moralizing. The image offers insights into the period's social fabric, from street performances to domestic scenes, all intended to shape young minds. Made in the Netherlands, this print reflects the cultural values of the time. It shows a society grappling with modernity while upholding traditional values. As historians, our role is to decode these images, understanding their intended audience and the messages they conveyed. Resources like period publications, educational treatises, and social histories help us contextualize this print within the broader narrative of 19th-century Dutch society. It's a reminder that art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.