Vertelling van Roodkapje 1835 - 1837

W. Thompson created this print, "Vertelling van Roodkapje," or "Story of Little Red Riding Hood" using lithography, although it is undated. Prints like this one, which probably comes from the 19th century, were often produced as part of a larger culture of storytelling. It's likely the artist was Dutch, as the writing is in Dutch. The tale of Little Red Riding Hood has been told in many different ways across many cultures. The illustrations are simple and rely on the viewer's existing knowledge of the story to fill in the gaps. This artwork reflects a moment when folklore and fairy tales were being codified and standardized, often for educational purposes. These stories often carry moral lessons and reflect the values of the society in which they are told. To understand this print fully, we would look at the history of children's literature, popular print culture, and the social values that the story of Little Red Riding Hood was meant to convey.