Borstvoedende vrouw met vijf kinderen c. 1746

"Borstvoedende vrouw met vijf kinderen" (c. 1746), created by Nicolas de (III) Larmessin, is a poignant etching depicting a mother breastfeeding one of her five children while the others watch on intently. This scene captures the hardships of a peasant family, highlighted by their simple attire and the rustic setting. The mother's gaze is directed forward, conveying a sense of stoic resilience in the face of poverty. The etching exemplifies the 18th-century Rococo style with its emphasis on naturalism and sentimental subjects, exploring themes of motherhood, poverty, and family life in a captivating and thought-provoking manner.