Schoolmeester voor een klas 1840

Emanuel Noterman created this print of a schoolmaster and his class sometime in the first half of the 19th century. It offers a glimpse into the world of education and social dynamics of the time. The scene unfolds within the confines of a modest schoolroom, where the schoolmaster stands, quill in hand, overseeing his pupils. The composition and the details within it speak volumes about the culture of learning during the 1800s. Note the architecture of the building. What does that say about the state of education in the Netherlands at the time? What about the children; who do you think they are, what class do they belong to? The very act of creating and distributing prints like these suggests a growing interest in portraying everyday life and social institutions. Art historians can look at the records of schools and pedagogical treatises to better understand this image. We also look at the material culture of the time, the objects that appear, to understand the world in which it was created.