Voor het plakboek (7) 1875 - 1919

Curator: This is "Voor het plakboek (7)" by Jan de Haan, created between 1875 and 1919. It’s a lithograph print showing a variety of animals, each carefully labeled in Dutch. What are your first impressions? Editor: It's quaint! I’m struck by the arrangement. It feels like an illustrated dictionary, or perhaps a child's learning tool. I’m curious about the groupings, and I’m wondering, how would we interpret this work beyond just its representational aspects? Curator: That's a great starting point. It definitely speaks to education and early childhood. Consider the time period: late 19th century. This print reflects colonial-era categorizations of the natural world, presented in a very orderly, almost taxonomic fashion. Notice the evenhanded way wild animals are depicted next to domesticated ones. What does this suggest about human’s relationship to animals at this time, and what kind of power dynamics are subtly being put into play? Editor: It feels very... hierarchical. Almost like an inventory, implying a human-centric worldview, perhaps? Curator: Exactly. We can read it as a representation of humans asserting dominion over nature. But I wonder about "kinderprenten"—children's prints. Is it innocent, or does it normalise this sense of superiority early on? Who is deciding how children relate to animals and why? Editor: It's unsettling when you think about it that way. A seemingly simple educational tool becomes a vehicle for reinforcing particular ideologies. Curator: And the lithographic process itself made it easily reproducible, spreading these ideas far and wide. Looking at the animals themselves, does anything specific draw your attention in terms of representation and the ways identity might be mapped onto them? Editor: Well, the "rossarend" – the eagle – definitely stands out, positioned at the bottom right as the most powerful, even majestic creature, especially considering the other groupings are very pastoral and calm. Its placement makes a bold statement, creating an abrupt shift and almost contradicting the innocence of the earlier images of everyday nature. Curator: Indeed. And what happens if we contrast the regal "rossarend" with the domesticated animals nearby? Perhaps there's commentary on cultural values, linking specific identities and social positions within this curated natural world. What do you make of this perspective? Editor: That’s a really fascinating reading, highlighting the socio-political dimensions embedded within seemingly innocuous children’s imagery. It really makes me rethink how carefully we need to examine the visual language presented to children, even today. Curator: Me too!