Twee spelende meisjes met pop, teil en gieter 1885

E. Linde made this photograph of two girls playing with a doll, tub, and watering can. The image encourages us to consider the social construction of childhood in a particular time and place. Looking closely, we can see the girls enacting domestic roles. One child bathes the doll, while the other pours water. The setting, likely a photographer's studio, presents a constructed reality, a stage for performing idealized versions of childhood. Made in Europe, the image likely reflects middle-class values, emphasizing the importance of nurturing and domesticity for young girls. It presents a view of childhood as innocent and separate from the adult world, a concept that emerged in the 19th century alongside rising industrialization and changing family structures. To fully understand this photograph, we might look at historical sources such as etiquette manuals and children's literature, as well as the histories of photography and childhood. By studying these sources, we can better understand the complex social and institutional forces that shape the meaning of art.