Moeder met drie kinderen in een huis 1823 - 1873

Célestin Nanteuil created this drawing titled 'Moeder met drie kinderen in een huis' or 'Mother with three children in a house' some time between his birth in 1813 and death in 1873. The artwork shows a domestic interior scene with a woman surrounded by three young children. In nineteenth-century Europe, the role of women was often confined to the domestic sphere. With its intimate setting, this image reflects the period's emphasis on women as caregivers and nurturers. While motherhood was idealized, it also came with challenges, especially for women in lower social classes who faced economic hardship and limited opportunities. The woman's gaze, directed upwards and away from her children, hints at a longing for something beyond her immediate surroundings. In what ways might this image either reinforce or challenge the traditional representations of women during this time? Does it offer us a glimpse into the emotional and social realities of women's lives during the 19th century?