Fotoreproductie van een schilderij van twee vrouwen en vier spelende kinderen door P. J. Carpey before 1881

This is a photographic reproduction by Charles Claesen of a painting by P.J. Carpey, depicting two women and four children at play. It's striking how this image, classified as 'decorative,' speaks volumes about the conventional portrayal of women and childhood. The women in Carpey’s painting seem to exist solely within the domestic sphere. Their identities are rooted in their roles as caregivers, as are the children who are presented as figures of innocence. The scene is softened and idyllic, but it subtly reinforces the societal expectations of women and the limited opportunities afforded to them. Claesen’s photographic reproduction plays into this sentiment by framing it as a decorative piece; another object to adorn the domestic space. It’s an image that invites us to reflect on the historical constraints placed upon women and the narratives that have shaped our understanding of family and domestic life.