Staand kind 1741 - 1820

Abraham Delfos made this drawing of a standing child with pen in gray ink, dating back to the 18th or 19th century. At first glance, the image seems to capture a tender, intimate moment. Yet, the child’s proportions disrupt conventional beauty. The head is notably large in contrast to the slender limbs, creating a sense of imbalance and vulnerability. Delfos's minimalist approach, using delicate lines and subtle shading, draws our attention to the essence of form. The sketch invites a semiotic reading of the body as a signifier. Its exaggerated features might symbolize innocence or perhaps a critique of idealized childhood representations. The drawing employs scale not merely to represent but to destabilize our expectations, challenging the boundaries of representation. The artwork serves as an ongoing dialogue about perception, form, and the cultural codes embedded within the seemingly simple depiction of a child.