De eenden 1876 - 1893

Albert Quantin's 'The Ducks' is a print that offers a series of vignettes into the life of a young boy, likely made in the late 19th or early 20th century. The piece unfolds in a series of small scenes, telling a wordless story of childhood, companionship, and adventure. Within this series, class distinctions subtly emerge. The boy's interactions with his dog, the interior of a comfortable home, and the presence of a caregiver all point to a life of relative privilege. The story implies the idyllic image of childhood, but it is also a story that seems specific to a particular social stratum, one where children have the leisure to play and explore nature. We might ask ourselves, how does our understanding of childhood shift when we consider these unseen laborers? 'The Ducks' evokes nostalgia, inviting us to reflect on the stories we tell ourselves about childhood. The artwork leaves us to consider the emotional weight of these representations and how they shape our understanding of identity and memory.