Neemt kinders die dit leest, aandacht op deze menschen / En ziet of zulk een staat u wel zou zyn naar wenschen (...) 1800 - 1854

This print, "Neemt kinders die dit leest, aandacht op deze menschen," was created by Erve H. Rynders in Amsterdam. It presents a series of scenes depicting figures from the lower rungs of society. The figures are presented alongside moralizing text in both Dutch and French, and are meant to teach children to be content with their lot in life, as everything comes from God. Each panel shows a person engaged in labor: digging, pushing a wheelbarrow, or begging. The print reflects the rigid social hierarchies of the time. It speaks to the prevailing ideology that encouraged acceptance of one's social position. But I can't help but wonder about those kids it speaks to. Do they see these figures as cautionary tales, or do they perhaps recognize something of their own struggles reflected back at them?