Kindervreugd / of plaatjes voor kleine teekenaars en prentevriendjes; door R. G. Rijkens 1827

This illustrated print, Kindervreugd, was made in 1827 in Groningen, by Jan Oomkens, who was both a printmaker and bookseller. It is a lithograph, a printing process notable for its capacity to capture fine detail. Notice the relatively simple line work and composition of the images: a coat and pants, a game between two boys, two men sitting at a table, a clock, a bird in a cage, a hen, a harp player, a city and a house in the countryside. The figures are printed in color, which would have been a labor-intensive aspect of production. The artist also included short verses, which were meant to be read aloud. This print was most likely part of a series of educational prints used to teach children how to draw. But don’t miss the larger point, about how literacy and visual skills were being shaped for the next generation. This print is a reminder that even seemingly simple images can carry significant cultural weight.