Echtpaar met kind c. 1834 - 1870

Dirk Jurriaan Sluyter made this print of a couple with their child sometime in the 19th century. It’s a scene of domestic contentment, the parents gazing adoringly at their baby. But what kind of family is represented here? The setting provides some clues. The well-to-do interior, with its draped curtains, suggests a family of means. The ritual of bathing the child in a basin was a common practice, but one more easily managed by those with domestic help. The portrait on the wall could signify family lineage, a concern for those with property to pass on. The Netherlands in the 1800s was a society deeply divided by class. Prints like these, widely circulated, helped to reinforce ideals of family life. They provided models of behavior and aspiration. The image invites us to consider how notions of family are constructed and circulated through visual media, reflecting the values of a particular time and place. Investigating sources such as census records, domestic advice manuals, and other visual representations can help us understand the social and institutional contexts that shaped this image.