Scherpt uw verstand en vat den zin, / Dan steekt hier nog al leering in / Ziet met malkander, jonge Jeugd, / Dit tydverdryf, tot nut en vreugd. 1761 - 1804

This print, made by Erven de Weduwe Jacobus van Egmont, invites us to "sharpen your mind and grasp the meaning.” Printed in the Netherlands, without a specified date, the images and text exemplify a culture steeped in didacticism, where even leisure was seen as a vehicle for moral instruction. These visual puzzles would have been typical of the early modern period. In a society where literacy was not universal, the riddles create an accessible way to impart wisdom, regardless of class. But note the paternalistic tone, reflective of a hierarchical society where knowledge and virtue were the domain of the privileged. The artwork maintains traditional representations through its religious allegories, yet develops alternative narratives by democratizing access to the "lessons." The print stands as a testament to the enduring human desire to find meaning and instruction in the world around us.