Ontwakend meisje 1831 - 1904

Arnoud Schaepkens created this small etching of a girl in the Netherlands sometime in the 19th century. It depicts a child cradling a small animal, maybe a cat. The quick, loose lines capture a tender moment of quiet intimacy. Considered in its time, we can see that this image reflects a growing interest in childhood and domesticity. The 19th century saw a shift in societal attitudes towards children, with more emphasis placed on their innocence and vulnerability. This print participates in the culture of sentiment that was so popular in the 19th century, showing the close bond between a child and her pet. It implies a critique of industrialization, harking back to simpler times. To understand this work more fully, we can look at the artist's biography, the prints that he admired and the exhibition history of this artwork. The interpretation of art, after all, is contingent on its social and institutional context.