Drie kinderen voeren een lam c. 1831 - 1877

Frederic Charles Wentzel’s print, "Three Children Feed a Lamb," presents a seemingly simple scene, yet it's steeped in the social values of its time. Made during an era of rising bourgeois sensibilities, possibly in France, the image idealizes domesticity. Notice how the children, neatly dressed, are engaged in gentle interaction with the lamb while an elegant woman watches. This echoes the emphasis on the family and the nurturing role of women. Even the landscape contributes to the sense of cultivated leisure and carefully managed nature. However, the toys discarded on the ground hint at a more complex reality. As art historians, we need to examine fashion plates, conduct studies on childhood in the 19th century, and consult social histories to understand the full picture. By understanding the social and institutional context in which art is made, we reveal its hidden layers of meaning.