Eugen Wachenheimer als jongetje, gekleed in een jurk en donkere sokken, gezeten op een hobbelpaard, met een hoed op zijn hoofd 1889 - 1896

Anton Hruschka made this photographic print showing Eugen Wachenheimer as a boy on a rocking horse in Strasbourg. This image speaks to the cultural practices of late 19th-century Europe, where children, regardless of gender, were often dressed in similar clothing during their early years. Here, the trappings of childhood innocence, the rocking horse, and the dress, are visually complicated by the boy’s serious expression. The photograph raises questions about the construction of identity and the performance of social roles. How did institutions like family and photography studios contribute to shaping gender norms? The work subtly prompts us to consider how seemingly harmless cultural practices can reflect and perpetuate the power dynamics within a society. To understand this photograph better, one might delve into studies of childhood in the 19th century, photography’s institutional role in society, and gender studies. These lines of enquiry help reveal the complex ways in which art acts as a mirror to society, reflecting its values, biases, and evolving understanding of itself.