Tre børn og en dukke 1864 - 1877

Curator: This is Lorenz Frølich's "Tre børn og en dukke," created sometime between 1864 and 1877. It's currently housed here at the SMK, Statens Museum for Kunst. Editor: My first thought is... fragile. Look at those pencil lines, so delicate, barely there. It feels like capturing a fleeting moment. It makes you wonder, who were these kids? What was their story? Curator: Well, the artwork utilizes pencil as its primary medium, indicative of a drawing intended for reproduction, likely for book illustration. The clothing and hairstyles offer clues to the social context of the children, likely middle-class. Notice how the labor of childhood—play—is depicted within a controlled domestic sphere. Editor: That's interesting, but for me it feels far from controlled. More like… suspended. The doll itself seems to hang between these two girls, not really held. And look at the littlest one taking tentative steps, being carefully supported, unsure and precious! There is nothing that says safety there! Curator: Perhaps. But the very act of creating a narrative scene like this also highlights the commodification of childhood innocence, feeding into sentimental tastes through reproducible imagery and accessible art prints. Editor: Commodification sounds so harsh! Maybe he simply witnessed a scene that charmed him—the everyday joy and tenderness between siblings—and felt compelled to capture it. The slight awkwardness even seems genuine! Not something artificially sentimental, which really attracts me in this. Curator: Possibly, though his background in academic art meant being familiar with established compositional tropes, ensuring his work would be seen to a wide purchasing demographic of his time. He likely hoped to benefit from a pre-existing and predictable, perhaps, demand. Editor: So, perhaps both exist side by side? He may have found inspiration in a tender sibling bond but knew perfectly how the art market worked! The best artworks can have all those facets I think. It feels really good to contemplate what his true inspiration was!