Fire børneportrætter: Pierre, Paul, Lili og Toto 1866

Lorenz Frølich created this diminutive drawing of four children, Pierre, Paul, Lili and Toto, using pen and ink on paper. The circular composition, dominated by sepia tones, evokes a sense of classical medallions, yet this is disrupted by the sketch-like quality and the cropped edge. Frølich employs a frieze-like arrangement, presenting the children in profile, each face subtly distinct, yet unified within the tight, circular frame. This compositional choice creates a sense of enclosure, almost as if these children are captured within a moment, preserved like specimens. The surrounding text, appearing as an inscription, frames and almost traps the figures. This technique invites a semiotic reading, where the visual elements and text interact, challenging the traditional boundaries of portraiture. The interplay between the structured composition and the implied narrative encourages us to consider how Frølich destabilizes conventional representations of childhood.