Comment Bébé est recue en rentrant a l'hotel 1863

This print, ‘Comment Bébé est recue en rentrant a l'hotel’ was made by Louis Paul Pierre Dumont, sometime in the mid- to late-19th century. It captures a scene of bourgeois domesticity. A child, presumably returning to a hotel with its nanny, is greeted enthusiastically by the family dog. The caption reads, “Bébé trouve Riquet beaucoup trop caressant,” or, “Baby finds Riquet too affectionate.” Such images were incredibly popular during the period. They reflected the values of the growing middle class, while also shaping them. Prints like this were disseminated widely and cheaply, often appearing in illustrated magazines and books. They served to normalize specific ideals about family, home life, and social roles. Think about the figure of the nanny, for example, and the implied wealth and class status of those who could afford such help. To understand this image better, we can research the history of childhood, domesticity, and the print market in 19th-century France. Considering its context, we can appreciate the role of art in mirroring and reinforcing cultural norms.