Kinder-spelen 1850 - 1870

Editor: Here we have Gerrit Oortman’s “Kinder-spelen,” a lithograph print from around 1850 to 1870 in the Rijksmuseum’s collection. It almost looks like a page torn from a charming, old-fashioned comic book. What catches your eye, what do you see going on here? Curator: It’s utterly captivating, isn't it? It’s like peering into a forgotten world of childhood. I see echoes of Bruegel, almost, but miniaturized, softened. Imagine Oortman sketching these scenes, perhaps from his window, children lost in play. What stories might he have invented for them, do you think? Each vignette its own tiny stage… look closely - can you almost hear their laughter? Editor: It really does feel like eavesdropping on a moment. The use of lithography here is interesting – it feels immediate, almost like a page from a personal sketchbook. Curator: Exactly! It's so much more intimate than a formal painting. It reminds me of how the mundane is often sacred. Consider, if you will, what these games tell us about society back then. Were they simply innocent pastimes, or rehearsals for the roles they’d assume as adults? Editor: Hmm, I hadn’t considered that! I suppose even play reflects the structures around us. The different economic statuses of children, reflected in their clothing or perhaps in some having toys, while others just run. It’s fascinating. Curator: Isn’t it? The joy and the work – intertwined like ivy around a gate. This print whispers a silent, compelling poem about life’s earliest acts, don't you think? Editor: I do. This has really opened my eyes to seeing these everyday sketches as historical documents, each little panel rich with clues about childhood and society. Thank you.