Tre kvinder med et barn. (Moses findes af Faraos datter?) 1820 - 1908

This pen and brown ink drawing, made by Lorenz Frølich, possibly illustrates the story of Moses being found by Pharaoh's daughter. Frølich was working in a period defined by burgeoning nationalism across Europe; and during this time artists turned to historical and mythological narratives to define national identities. Here, we see the biblical story filtered through a 19th-century lens. There are three women, their classical drapery slips off their shoulders and breasts. One woman holds a baby, while another gazes at him tenderly. Their presentation contrasts sharply with the historical realities of infant mortality and gendered power dynamics. The women are figures of compassion and care, embodying a sentimentalized vision of motherhood. What strikes me most is the emotional tension inherent in this scene: the vulnerability of the child, the protective gaze of the women, and the overarching sense of destiny. This image invites us to consider the complex interplay between history, identity, and representation.