Kinderen voor de kraam van een prenthandelaar 1834

Auguste Raffet made this lithograph, "Kinderen voor de kraam van een prenthandelaar", whose date is unknown, but it resides in the Rijksmuseum. Raffet lived through a time of significant social change in France, witnessing the rise and fall of Napoleon, the Bourbon Restoration, and the July Revolution. In this print we see children gathered around a print stall. The children, likely from a range of social classes as denoted by their varied clothing, appear united in their curiosity and engagement with the images on display. Notice how the artist captures the fleeting moment of childhood wonder and communal experience, but also the burgeoning culture of consumerism that was emerging in Paris. Raffet’s works often depict scenes of everyday life. His prints contributed to a broader visual culture that reflected and shaped societal values and norms. By focusing on the children's interactions, Raffet offers a glimpse into the formation of identity and the role of art in shaping individual and collective consciousness.