Zie / Jeugd! tot uw vermaak / de kinder-kar en wagen / Blyf dankbaar dat voor uw meer zorgen word gedragen 1831

Editor: Here we have Hermanus Numan's etching from 1831, with the delightfully long title: "Zie / Jeugd! tot uw vermaak / de kinder-kar en wagen / Blyf dankbaar dat voor uw meer zorgen word gedragen." Quite a mouthful! Looking at this piece, I'm struck by the chaos, the feeling of things about to go horribly wrong. What do you see in it? Curator: Oh, the sweet disarray of it all! This isn’t just chaos; it's a visual proverb, a snippet of life caught with all its delightful irony. Numan seems to be playing with the notion of responsibility, or rather, the lack thereof. See how the upper scene features children tumbling from an overloaded cart, while adults appear more concerned with blame than aid? The bottom scene features another precarious scenario. It's as if Numan is winking at us, acknowledging the beautiful messiness of human existence, where things inevitably go sideways. What do you make of the Dutch text framing the image? Editor: If I'm understanding the old Dutch correctly, it reinforces the idea that youth is for amusement, and that they should be thankful for adult supervision. It’s a cautionary tale, then? Curator: Precisely! But does it feel entirely scolding? Numan was incredibly skilled, capturing a light touch, as if these calamities are merely passing phases. I’m reminded of something the poet Mary Oliver wrote, “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” Perhaps Numan suggests embracing life’s absurdities, mishaps and all! After all, isn’t the true journey more about navigating those tumbles than avoiding them altogether? Editor: That’s a lovely way to look at it – seeing the humor and humanity in what seems like a simple morality tale. I initially focused on the potential danger, but now I see the invitation to embrace the unexpected detours of life. Curator: Indeed! Maybe a better title would’ve been "A Grand Mishap is Often the Greatest Adventure". I guess Numan had enough to write already!