Kinder-deugden en gebreken 1806 - 1830

This allegorical print, "Children's Virtues and Vices," was made by Jacob Plugger, sometime in the 18th or 19th century. It’s a fascinating catalog of moral lessons presented through a series of vignettes. Take, for instance, the motif of sharing, depicted in one of the scenes. It echoes across centuries. We see it re-emerge in Renaissance paintings of charitable saints and even in ancient Roman depictions of Concordia, the goddess of harmony. Consider how the act of giving, deeply embedded in our collective psyche, transcends mere physical exchange. It becomes a symbol of social cohesion. These scenes engage us on a subconscious level, tapping into our innate understanding of social virtues and vices. It's a cyclical progression where the lessons of childhood resurface, continually evolving, each age imbuing them with new significance. They remind us that while times change, the fundamental nature of human behavior—and our attempts to shape it—endures.