Oppas met kind in een park te Antwerpen 1825 - 1835

Jean-Baptiste Madou created this print, “Nanny with Child in a Park in Antwerp,” in the 19th century. It depicts a nanny and child in what is presumably a middle-class domestic scene. Madou’s work provides a glimpse into the social dynamics of his time, particularly regarding class and gender roles. We see how the labor of child-rearing was often outsourced to women of a lower social class, allowing bourgeois women to focus on other pursuits. The nanny, identified by her plain dress and head covering, stands attentively beside the child. The artist captures a dynamic found in many households; the intimacy and care provided by a woman hired to nurture. These images were made for mass consumption, reflecting and reinforcing societal norms. The print offers a sentimental view of domestic life, yet it prompts us to consider the economic and social structures that enable this arrangement. It's a reminder of the labor and relationships that often go unseen in depictions of bourgeois comfort and family.