Interieur met figuren rond een kind in een wieg 1878 - 1904

Marie Louveau-Rouveyre created this image of figures around a crib, sometime in the late 19th century. It's a small print, made after an original drawing by the famous Rococo artist Jean-Honoré Fragonard. The image offers a glimpse into domestic life in France, probably during the late 1700s. The composition emphasizes the tight-knit family unit, with all eyes directed toward the infant. But this is also a product of the art market. Fragonard and other artists, under pressure from institutions like the Académie Royale, created works that depicted the family as a cornerstone of society. By reproducing Fragonard, Louveau-Rouveyre enters into a complex dialogue with the artistic traditions of the past. To fully understand the image's historical context, scholars consult period documents like household inventories, fashion plates, and even medical records to better understand how families lived, dressed, and cared for children. Approaching art through social history allows us to understand its role in shaping and reflecting cultural values.