Fotoreproductie van Les culottes déchirées van H. Kretzschmer 1855 - 1885

This anonymous photograph reproduces H. Kretzschmer’s image, Les culottes déchirées, and presents us with a glimpse into domestic life, likely in late 19th-century Europe. The scene depicts a grandmother mending clothes, a young child standing beside her, and a small dog completing the family tableau. But what does it tell us about the social conditions of its time? The act of mending, for instance, suggests a household where resources are valued and conserved, reflecting the economic realities for many families. Institutions such as the family are central, with roles and expectations clearly defined: the grandmother as caretaker, the child in a state of docile innocence. To understand this photograph fully, we might turn to sources such as photographs from the era, domestic advice manuals, or social surveys that document the everyday lives of families. Such documents, when considered together, reveal the complex interplay between art, social norms, and institutional structures. The historian plays a crucial role in piecing together these fragments to illuminate the meanings embedded in this simple, yet resonant image.