Skitser til: Selv i dødens stund vaager Moderkærligheden over barnets tarv 1860

Lorenz Frølich created these sketches on paper for 'Selv i dødens stund vaager Moderkærligheden over barnets tarv', meaning "Even in the moment of death, motherly love watches over the child's needs." Made in Denmark, most likely in the 19th century, these sketches explore themes prevalent in Romanticism—intense emotion, the power of nature, and the idealization of motherhood. We see these ideas explored in the poses of the mother and child, bound together in moments of grief, loss, and protection. This concern for the domestic sphere reflects a broader cultural interest in sentimental depictions of family life and its connection with national identity. These sketches are housed at the Statens Museum for Kunst, a national institution which played a crucial role in shaping artistic tastes and promoting particular notions of Danish identity. To fully understand this work, one might investigate official exhibition catalogs, critical reviews, and biographical details about Frølich’s involvement in national artistic circles.