Man redt kind uit wak 1836

Johannes Steyn created this print titled 'Man redt kind uit wak' – 'Man saves child from ice hole' – sometime between 1805 and 1840, using etching. The image captures a dramatic rescue on a frozen waterway. A child has fallen through the ice, and a man rushes to save them, while onlookers gather, their expressions a mix of concern and helplessness. In the 19th century, the Netherlands was experiencing significant social and political change, with evolving ideas about community, responsibility, and the role of the individual. This print can be interpreted as a reflection of those values. The act of saving a child becomes a powerful metaphor for broader social concerns about the protection and nurturing of future generations. What does it mean to be vulnerable, who is watching out for you and what assumptions do we make about the different roles of people in society?