Klein-moedertje c. 1902

This lithograph titled "Klein-moedertje" by Pellerin & Cie. is all about capturing the fleeting nature of childhood play, like freeze frames from a children's film. The colours are muted, almost like a faded memory, and the lines are delicate, giving the whole thing a whimsical feel. Look at the bottom right corner. Here, the ‘little mother’ tenderly rocks a doll. See how the artist suggests movement with the curved lines around the rocking horse. There’s a sense of care and imitation, as though the child is rehearsing a future role. This reminds me of other artists who looked at daily life like Bonnard and Vuillard. They weren’t trying to make grand statements but were capturing the simple moments that make up our lives. Art, at its best, is about recognising the beauty in the everyday, and this print does just that, inviting us to reflect on the universal experience of growing up.