Zes vignetten over het dagelijkse leven 1829 - 1840

Marie-Alexandre Alophe made this lithograph, titled ‘Six Vignettes about Daily Life,’ in France during the 19th century. It offers us a window into the social codes of the era. Each vignette captures a scene, from a mother and child by the sea to an artist painting a portrait. The image creates meaning through these scenes, referencing the cultural values of family, work, and art. In 19th-century France, social class dictated the roles individuals played, and the image seems to reflect and reinforce these roles. However, by presenting these scenes together, the artist may also be commenting on the social structures of his time. Was he self-consciously conservative, or subtly progressive? To understand this better, we might consult period sources such as newspapers, letters, and other visual culture, to further illuminate the social and institutional context in which Alophe created his image.