Double child's portrait of Wlliam and Alfred Bloch 

Carl Bloch painted this double portrait of William and Alfred Bloch in oils on canvas. This portrait exists within a historical context where ideas about childhood were changing. As the 19th century progressed, there was a growing recognition of children as individuals with specific needs and characteristics, separate from those of adults. Bloch, who came from a humble background, became known for religious and genre paintings, and portraits like these offered him a way to make a living. The sitters, William and Alfred, are dressed in similar dark outfits with ruffled collars, which was typical for boys of their social class at the time. What stands out to me is their expressions. The younger boy has a slightly furrowed brow, while the older one stares out with a more serious gaze. It feels like Bloch captured something very personal about them. Rather than idealized portrayals, Bloch presents a nuanced perspective on boyhood, subtly challenging conventional representations of children in art. The painting invites us to reflect on the complexities of identity formation during childhood.