Floskaartjes 1787 - 1822

This hand-colored etching, printed by J. H. de Lange in Deventer, presents us with a fascinating, if fragmented, view of early 19th-century Dutch society. The print depicts rows of figures in various activities, each labeled with a descriptive name: we see occupations, pastimes, and character types, offering a glimpse into the social fabric of the time. The categorization of people into such types was a common practice, reflecting a society grappling with questions of identity and social order. De Lange was not just an artist but also a book printer and seller. His commercial activities were part of a growing print culture and we can look at this artwork as a form of popular entertainment and social commentary that was widely accessible. To understand this image better, we might investigate Deventer's local economy, religious life, and social hierarchies. By consulting archives, newspapers, and other printed ephemera, we can reconstruct the context in which this image was created and consumed, and gain a richer understanding of its meaning.