Kinders hier ziet gy aardig af-geprent [ / Duyfken en ] Willemeynkes leven exelent 1767 - 1793

This undated print by Erven Hendrik van der Putte, now in the Rijksmuseum, offers us a window into the moral and social values of the Dutch Republic, likely around the 17th or 18th century. The print, titled "Kinders hier ziet gy aardig af-geprent" which translates to “Children, here you see a nice print” and subtitled "Duyfken en Willemeynkes leven exelent" or “The excellent life of Duyfken and Willemeynke", is laid out as a series of vignettes. Each scene illustrates moments in the lives of Duyfken and Willemeynke, likely allegorical figures representing ideal childhood behaviors. The images, combined with the didactic text, would have served as a moral compass, guiding young viewers towards piety, obedience, and industry - virtues highly prized in the mercantile culture of the Netherlands. The print thus acts as a historical document, reflecting the era’s pedagogical strategies and the social expectations placed on children. To fully understand this piece, one would delve into period literature on child-rearing, religious texts, and the economic conditions that shaped family life in the Dutch Republic.