Lille pige bader et mindre barn 1864 - 1877

Lorenz Frølich made this diminutive drawing, Lille pige bader et mindre barn, which translates to Little Girl Bathing a Smaller Child, using pen and ink sometime during the 19th century. Frølich was known for his illustrations of Nordic mythology and historical scenes. Here, though, he depicts an intimate domestic scene of a young girl bathing a baby. The image provides a glimpse into the daily lives of children, reflecting broader societal expectations around gender and labor. In many 19th-century homes, older female children were often responsible for caring for younger siblings, especially in working-class families. We see both the tenderness and the labor inherent in the girl’s care. The image may soften some of the harsher realities of child labor through its idealized representation of childhood innocence and familial bonds. Frølich invites us to reflect on the complex roles children play in society, and to recognize the ways in which their lives are shaped by both affection and necessity.