Jonge vrouw geeft een kind een pak slaag met een roe 1744 - 1781

Editor: This ink drawing on paper, "Young Woman Spanking a Child with a Rod," by Jean Baptist Leprince, seems… intense. There’s a strange domesticity to the scene, yet it depicts a moment of violence. What's your take on this artwork? Curator: It’s fascinating how Leprince uses the rococo style to frame what is, as you pointed out, a very complicated moment. Look at the setting: a domestic scene with soft lighting. But consider the power dynamics. A woman, presumably the mother or caretaker, is enacting physical punishment on a child. How do we reconcile the gentle lines with this act? Editor: So you're saying the beauty of the style might be masking the more difficult themes at play? Curator: Precisely. Think about the historical context: Who held power? Who was disciplined? Was this form of discipline considered normal? Or, perhaps Leprince is subtly critiquing it? Editor: I never thought about the implications of discipline being portrayed in such a delicate, almost idealized, way. Curator: These images offer a window into past societal norms, prompting us to question their underlying values and biases, right? It encourages a broader understanding of power dynamics inherent within family structures, especially how gender roles dictate expressions of authority. Editor: It's troubling and eye-opening to think about discipline in this historical and social context. Thanks for bringing that up! Curator: Of course. I think what Leprince unwittingly highlights through the elegance of his rococo style are those normalized structures of violence that continue to resonate today. It asks us to consider what has changed and what remains.