Spelende kinderen met kaartenhuis 1725 - 1727

This undated engraving by François Joullain depicts two children playing with cards. Made in France, the print offers a glimpse into the lives of privileged children during the 18th century. The children are building a house of cards which could be seen as a metaphor for the fragility of social structures and the fleeting nature of childhood dreams. The older child puts a finger to their lips, as if to silence the viewer, inviting us into their private world, yet also reminding us of the performative aspects of childhood. Joullain's engraving prompts us to consider the cultural expectations placed on children, especially within the context of class and gender. What does it mean to represent childhood as a time of innocence and play when it is inevitably shaped by societal norms and power dynamics? The image lingers in the space between genuine experience and constructed representation.