Tijl Uilenspiegel was een guit, / Hij voerde menig schelmstuk uit; / Dus, kind'ren volgt zijn voorbeeld niet, / Of vreest voor oneer en verdriet 1832 - 1850

Curator: Ah, yes! This little gem is “Tijl Uilenspiegel was een guit, / Hij voerde menig schelmstuk uit; / Dus, kind'ren volgt zijn voorbeeld niet, / Of vreest voor oneer en verdriet,” created sometime between 1832 and 1850 by Theodorus Johannes Wijnhoven-Hendriksen. It’s an engraving – a print – brimming with miniature scenes. The first impression is a chaotic charm…almost like a comic strip from a bygone era, don't you think? What’s your take? What grabs you? Editor: It does look like an early comic strip. I guess the layout and little pictures tell a story. It feels a bit moralistic. It makes me wonder who Tijl Uilenspiegel was and why someone would make this kind of thing for kids. Can you tell me more? Curator: He’s quite the rascal! Tijl Uilenspiegel is a trickster from folk legends. See how the images are arranged? They almost mimic the feeling of folk tales; a string of moments building to some clever--and often slightly naughty--revelation. There’s this playful warning, wrapped up in narrative art – part of that Dutch Golden Age sensibility…that’s history and a cheeky smirk combined! Almost feels like a bit of theatre in paper form. What does it make you think of in a world where theatre wasn’t accessible to all? Editor: It's interesting how art was used to teach lessons and entertain at the same time. Now I'm thinking of the way stories were passed down before everyone could read. It must have been powerful! Curator: Precisely. A moral compass spun with yarns. This unassuming print echoes something deeper about humanity's insatiable thirst for stories, no? Editor: Yes! It has helped me think about the role of visual storytelling throughout time, and across different media. Thanks!