Zittende vrouw met een slapend meisje aan haar knieën Possibly 1802 - 1830

This sanguine drawing shows a seated woman with a sleeping girl leaning against her. It was created by Gerardus Johannes Verburgh in 1836. During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the figure of the mother became central to discourses around social stability. The image of a woman caring for a child reinforced gendered expectations, which confined women to the domestic sphere. However, these images also served to celebrate women’s emotional labor. The woman’s protective gesture over the sleeping child evokes themes of safety and vulnerability. The presence of the child invites us to consider childhood as a unique experience, separate from the adult world. In this image, we can reflect on the interconnectedness between caregiver and child and the feelings of tenderness, responsibility, and love that connect them.