School is Out c. 19th century

Curator: This delightful print, "School is Out," designed by Adrian Ludwig Richter, shows a boisterous scene. The kids look positively ecstatic! Editor: It's the contrast of the controlled space—the doorway, the teacher, even the dog—against the chaotic burst of children that really grabs me. Look at the materiality of the image, the labor of the etching work. Curator: Yes, there's such a feeling of pent-up energy released. One can almost hear their laughter! Editor: And consider the consumption of education at the time. This print visualizes that moment when the labor of learning is released. Curator: It’s a sweet reminder of childhood liberation. Editor: Indeed, it invites reflection on the societal structures embedded in something as simple as a school day. Curator: I find myself smiling, remembering that very feeling. Editor: And I'm pondering how the production and consumption of knowledge are visualized.