De lentetijd des levens 1849

This print, titled "The Springtime of Life", was created by Jan Schuitemaker, and carries us through the archetypal stages of childhood. Note the cyclical progression of the scenes. The image of the child going to school evokes ancient processions, rituals of passage, or even the cyclical return of seasons. We see the child being born, going to school, and playing with friends. Observe how the repetition of enclosed spaces—a room, a school, a classroom—mirrors the protective environments crafted for the child. Think of the *hortus conclusus*, the enclosed garden, symbolizing purity and shelter. This motif echoes through time, from medieval tapestries to Renaissance paintings. The schoolroom scene conjures images of early rabbinical schools or monastic orders. The act of learning, the passing down of knowledge—it’s a theme that resonates universally. In this work, Schuitemaker engages with a powerful, shared cultural memory, stirring subconscious associations of nurturing, growth, and the cyclical nature of life itself.