Gipsmodellen voor beeldhouwwerken op het Palais du Louvre: links "La Sagesse" en rechts "La Loi" door Pierre Edouard Charrier c. 1855 - 1857

Edouard Baldus captured this photograph of plaster models for sculptures by Pierre Edouard Charrier, intended for the Palais du Louvre. In mid-19th century France, the concept of childhood innocence emerged alongside shifts in class structure. The sculptures "La Sagesse" and "La Loi" depict cherubic children, embodying abstract concepts that reinforce a social order. These images reflect an ideal of youth, detached from the lived realities of many children, particularly those from the working class, who faced harsh labor conditions. Baldus, himself, was commissioned to document public works, intertwining his artistic practice with the political agenda of the French state. The photograph invites us to reflect on how ideals are constructed and who they serve, and also on the role of art in shaping societal values, particularly around identity and power. The sculptures’ delicate features stir up questions about the emotional impact of such representations, and their use to promote specific ideologies.