Dit ras van vog'len, dat gij hier, / o jeugd! geprint ziet op 't papier, / Word, als een proef van onze vlijt / Aan uwe leerlust toegeweid 1806 - 1830

This educational print was made in the Netherlands by Johan Noman around the late 18th or early 19th century. It’s a woodblock print featuring twelve different species of birds, each accompanied by a short descriptive verse. Considered within its time, the image is very much an enlightenment project. It uses visual codes and cultural references to promote education and understanding of the natural world. The formal arrangement of the birds is a deliberate attempt to categorize and present knowledge systematically. This was a period where scientific illustration was becoming increasingly important for pedagogical purposes. The verses accompanying each bird also reflect the didactic tone common in educational materials of the era. Such prints were often used in schools or by families to instruct children about the diversity of nature and instil a sense of curiosity and learning. To understand this print better, one might research the educational practices and the types of natural history publications that were popular at the time in the Netherlands. This would help contextualize the print’s function and purpose within its original social and institutional setting.