Dimensions: height 339 mm, width 412 mm
Copyright: Rijks Museum: Open Domain
George Lodewijk Funke created "Voor het plakboek (3)," a collection of lithographs, reflecting 19th-century Dutch society. These prints, intended for children's scrapbooks, offer a window into the era's values and prejudices. We see caricatures which perpetuate stereotypes based on race and class. Note, for instance, the dehumanizing depictions of African people, juxtaposed with images of privileged Europeans. The presence of such imagery in children's materials reveals the normalization of inequality within the culture. Funke's work invites us to consider how visual culture contributes to shaping identities and reinforcing societal hierarchies. While seemingly lighthearted, these images raise complex questions about power, representation, and the impact of historical narratives on contemporary understandings of race and identity.
Be the first to comment and join the conversation on the ultimate creative platform.