Zie hier wat jonge knapen spelen, / Hun oefening zal u niet vervelen. / Volgt jeugd! in alles hun bedrijf / Maak dat er 't misbruik buiten blijv' 1850 - 1870

This color etching of children's games was made by Gerrit Oortman in the Netherlands, sometime around the turn of the 19th century. It depicts twelve scenes of boys playing. Each panel includes a rhyming couplet exhorting youths to make sure that misuse remains outside all their activities. Images like these were often educational tools, intended to teach children about social norms and moral conduct. The Dutch Republic had a long tradition of didactic art, but in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the Netherlands was beset by political turmoil and economic decline. These social factors may have encouraged a nostalgic focus on education, social order, and traditional values. The museum, as an institution, also played a role in shaping public taste. As an art historian, I can look at the symbolism, the cultural context, and the historical events surrounding this artwork, using archival resources and scholarly research to understand its meaning and significance within its specific time and place.