Spel van vernuft / en / smaak 1813

This is “Game of Ingenuity and Taste” by Jan Oortman, made sometime around 1783, we think. It’s an engraving with watercolor that presents a game, maybe a fortune-telling game, which reflects the cultural values of the late 18th century in the Netherlands. At the center, we see two figures, perhaps a boy and a girl, engaged in some kind of parlor activity. They are framed by theatrical drapes, which suggests the performative aspects of social life. The surrounding text boxes each contain a verse related to virtues and vices. Through these written reflections, the artwork provides a narrative about morality and social conduct. Consider the context of its creation: The Dutch Republic was at the time a society marked by growing bourgeois values and an emphasis on domestic life. The game, then, isn't just about entertainment, it is about instilling principles. The artwork invites us to reflect on the tension between individual expression, the confines of social expectation, and the ways we are shaped by cultural narratives.