Lille pige giver sin dukke smæk 1864 - 1877

This drawing, made by Lorenz Frølich, presents a scene dominated by delicate lines and a subdued palette. At first glance, the composition draws you to the central figure of a little girl poised to strike her doll, placed on a small chair. The texture is suggested through fine hatching and cross-hatching, lending depth to the room’s background. The arrangement of figures—the girl, doll, and a watchful cat—forms a semiotic tableau, rich in suggested meaning. Frølich uses the domestic setting to explore themes of power, innocence, and the performance of social roles. Note how the scale of the figures, with the doll as a diminutive stand-in, creates a hierarchy that’s both playful and telling. The cat in the background adds another layer, acting almost as a silent observer. Ultimately, the drawing functions as more than just a charming depiction of childhood. It invites us to consider how even in the most seemingly innocent scenes, complex social dynamics are at play, rendered through the artist’s keen formal choices.