Moeder met kind 1818 - 1863

Marinus Adrianus van Straten created this print, ‘Mother with Child’, sometime in the mid-19th century. Van Straten lived during a time of significant social change, when gender roles were being both reinforced and subtly questioned. Here, the artist presents us with a scene of domesticity. The mother sits, attending to her child in what appears to be a private moment, her gaze lowered in an expression of attentiveness. However, the image is also imbued with the strictures of its time. Motherhood was considered the primary role for women, a perspective that limited their opportunities outside the home. The child, with its exposed body, introduces an element of vulnerability, emphasizing the mother’s protective role. This work invites us to consider the complex interplay between societal expectations and the intimate realities of motherhood, and how such dynamics shaped women's identities during this era.