Letters A, B, C en D 1829 - 1880

These prints titled 'Letters A, B, C en D' were made by firma Joseph Scholz. These lithographs give us a glimpse into the rigid societal norms of the time, reflecting a world where charity, familial devotion, and virtue were prominently valued. Consider the first image, a woman dutifully handing out alms, reinforcing expectations of female piety and social responsibility. Likewise, the scene of a young woman presenting flowers speaks to ideals of domesticity, and familial bonds within the sheltered sphere of the home. However, the final image introduces a stark contrast. Here we see two boys, in what looks like a depiction of theft, maybe even mischief. It challenges the idealized narratives found in the other scenes and hints at the complex realities of social class and moral ambiguity. These prints, while seemingly quaint, expose the tensions between surface appearances and the realities of lived experience, inviting us to reflect on the norms that shape us.