Aanmaning tot de jeugd / Exhoration a la jeunesse 1806 - 1837

Editor: Here we have "Aanmaning tot de jeugd / Exhoration a la jeunesse," an engraving print created sometime between 1806 and 1837 by Schalekamp & Van de Grampel. It looks a bit like an early comic strip, with these little scenes and bits of text below. What’s your interpretation of this image? Curator: It is fascinating how printmaking served as a medium for moral instruction and social commentary during this period. The format, resembling a series of panels, points to the rise of illustrated periodicals and the growing literacy amongst the Dutch middle class. These visuals, paired with text, functioned almost like public service announcements, reflecting the values the establishment wished to instill in the youth. Editor: So, this wasn’t just art for art’s sake? Curator: Not necessarily. The prints were produced and distributed by booksellers. It served to encourage desired behavior from citizens. Consider the themes depicted – piety, industry, patriotism. These weren't just personal virtues but pillars of a stable, productive society. Editor: I see... almost like visual propaganda then? The way images were being used to shape public perception. Curator: Exactly. This piece makes me think of how museums curate and present history – that this piece here would itself shape public understanding through image. It’s about how images function within systems of power and influence. What do you think the contemporary counterpart to this image might be? Editor: I think maybe an Instagram influencer. Someone projecting images of success for the purpose of selling that lifestyle to others. Thank you! I learned about visual systems, which makes the print more interesting than the sum of its panels. Curator: It gives a greater appreciation for the impact of these seemingly simple prints on the construction of societal norms.