Spreekwoord: de poppen aan het dansen hebben

About this artwork

collector's mark: Lugt 2760

Art Historical Context

This delicate work on paper by Johannes Henderikus Morriën, created between 1865 and circa 1866, brings to life the Dutch proverb “de poppen aan het dansen hebben.” Literally meaning “to have the dolls dancing,” the phrase describes someone who pulls the strings behind the scenes, orchestrating events or maintaining control. Morriën’s choice of subject places the drawing within a long Dutch tradition of proverb imagery, where everyday scenes carry moral or social lessons for the viewer. Measuring 258 by 352 millimeters, the sheet’s modest scale suggests an intimate study or preparatory drawin...