Kinderen met kar 1777 - 1779

Pieter de Mare created this etching, "Children with Cart," sometime in the 18th century. The composition presents two children in a sparse landscape, delineated with delicate lines and hatching. Observe how De Mare uses line to convey form and texture. The figures, though simple, are rendered with attention to the details of their clothing and expressions. The composition is divided, with one child actively pulling a cart and the other passively sitting within it, holding a doll. This contrast invites a semiotic reading—active versus passive, movement versus stillness. The sparse background further isolates the figures, emphasizing their interaction and the dynamics of their relationship. The simplicity of the scene is deceptive, prompting us to consider what else might be at play in this apparently candid snapshot of childhood. Is De Mare inviting us to reflect on the nature of play, the roles children assume, or perhaps the societal structures that shape their interactions?