Lili læser 1861

Lorenz Frølich made this small drawing of 'Lili læser' with pen and ink. It captures a child absorbed in a book, a scene that reflects the growing emphasis on childhood and education in 19th-century Denmark. The image creates meaning through its intimate portrayal of a domestic scene. The soft lines and gentle shading evoke a sense of warmth and tenderness. The child's focus on the book suggests the importance of literacy and learning, values that were increasingly promoted by social reformers and educational institutions. Frølich’s drawing may also comment on the changing social structures of the time, where access to education was becoming more widespread, albeit still largely confined to the middle and upper classes. To fully understand this artwork, we might consult historical archives, educational treatises, and biographical materials related to Frølich and his contemporaries. This would allow a richer appreciation of the drawing's cultural and institutional context.