Twee lezende kinderen met een lantaarn 1763 - 1826

Abraham van Strij rendered “Two Children Reading by Lantern Light” in the late 18th or early 19th century using pen and brush in gray ink and gray wash. Reflecting the Enlightenment’s emphasis on education, this piece invites us to consider how access to knowledge shapes identity. The presence of a lantern is not just a source of light, but a metaphor for enlightenment ideals breaking through the darkness of ignorance. The children's engagement with reading hints at a societal shift towards valuing childhood as a period for intellectual development. The domestic setting speaks volumes, as the children are sitting together at a table with books, suggesting a degree of privilege and access to resources, which was not universally available. As you look at the children's faces, consider what access to education and knowledge meant during this era and how it continues to shape individual opportunities and societal progress.