Kind zittend in een kinderstoel in een tuin 1874 - 1901

Jan de Jong created this etching titled 'Child Sitting in a High Chair in a Garden'. The artist captures a candid moment, presenting the viewer with an intimate glimpse into childhood. During the late 19th century childhood was being re-evaluated, seen less as a phase of preparation for adulthood, and more as a state of innocence and play. This shift influenced how children were portrayed in art. De Jong’s etching, with its domestic setting and focus on the child’s absorption in the garden, reflects this changing perception. The high chair is a structure which contains the child, but also elevates them. There's a poignant tension between confinement and freedom, which resonates with the experience of childhood itself. By focusing on the everyday life of a child, De Jong invites us to reflect on the universal experience of growing up. This piece prompts a consideration of societal attitudes toward youth, while evoking personal memories of childhood's simple joys and constraints.