The Children's Nurse Josephine 1770

Jean Jacques de Boissieu created this etching, "The Children's Nurse Josephine," in the late 18th century, a period marked by significant social and political upheaval, particularly in France. The portrait captures Josephine, likely a working-class woman entrusted with the care of children. Boissieu’s choice to depict her is interesting. During this period, the labor of women was often overlooked or romanticized, and by focusing on Josephine, Boissieu draws attention to the often invisible work of childcare and domestic labor. Josephine's gaze and poised demeanor defy the sentimentalized representations of women common at the time, presenting her instead as an individual with her own story and presence. In this careful rendering, the artist invites us to consider the lives and contributions of those who often remain unseen.