Het nieuw vermakelyk Lui-Lekker-land 1781 - 1828

Jan Hendriksen's print, "Het nieuw vermakelyk Lui-Lekker-land," was created in Rotterdam using printmaking techniques. The etching process itself is crucial to understanding its message. The relatively inexpensive method of production allowed for mass distribution, catering to a broad audience and reflecting the rise of a commercial culture. The image presents an array of satirical scenes depicting a topsy-turvy land of ease and abundance. People lounge around as cooked birds fly into their mouths. The figures are rendered with simple lines and minimal detail, a consequence of the etching process, but also perhaps a deliberate choice to convey a sense of unrefined pleasure. In its imagery and production, the print satirizes ideas of labor and wealth by presenting an imaginary world of leisure. It questions the value of hard work in a changing society increasingly driven by consumption. It is a reminder that even seemingly simple works of art are deeply intertwined with the social and economic conditions of their time.