I forgrunden nogle piger, der hopper paradis. I baggrunden nogle drenge, der leger soldat samt en invalid, der ser til 1847

Johan Thomas Lundbye created this drawing, whose title translates to 'In the foreground some girls playing hopscotch. In the background some boys playing soldier and a disabled man watching', around 1840. The work offers a glimpse into 19th-century Danish society, reflecting its values and gendered expectations. Here, childhood innocence meets the harsh realities of adulthood. While girls are engaged in hopscotch, a game of skill and coordination, boys mimic the roles of soldiers. The imagery is a commentary on the separate spheres of boys and girls. Gender informs their play, their futures and the expectations of them. The war games played by the boys stand in stark contrast to the girls' hopscotch, hinting at looming conflicts and social inequalities. The figure of a disabled man watching the children suggests the personal costs of war. This piece reveals the artist's reflections on gender roles, societal expectations, and the human condition.