Public domain
Here you see the life and occupation / Of Jan the Washer and his wife
From the collection of Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
Sheet with 24 depictions from the life of Jan de Wasser, a man who must do all the household work himself, while his wife Griet, who wears the trousers, does nothing. Each image is accompanied by a two-line verse. Numbered at the top center: no. 5.
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam’s own descriptionCredit lineHier ziet ge 't leven en bedrijf / Van Jan de Wasscher en zijn wijf. 1848 - 1881. Alexander Cranendoncq. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Public domain.
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If you see these lovely little prints, / Do you not recognize Alphen? / Do you still remember his lovely verses? / I beg you, remember them
Thus you may rejoice again, / Thus one teaches you to avoid less, / O dear youth! with print by print, / So that you may turn to the greater
Children, if you wish to increase your joy, / And study in this print, / Cut them out beautifully according to the design, / And paste them on stiff paper
Honest play may amuse you, O youth, / But do not follow the pranks of Till Eulenspiegel, / Remain virtuous and dutiful, - then you will taste joy, / Then this true pleasure - that soul's delight - will reach its peak / Take honest amusements, my dear ones / Do not follow the tricks
Teach children through this print in your tender youth / That nothing makes you praiseworthy but the maintenance of virtue / Apprenez mes chers enfants par cette image / Qu'il n'y a rien que la vertu qui vous rendra sage