Kind met prentenboek 1838 - 1863

'Kind met prentenboek' was made by Frederik Hendrik Weissenbruch. The artwork presents a quiet moment, capturing a child absorbed in the pages of a picture book. Born in the Netherlands during a period of significant social change, Weissenbruch's artistic sensibility was honed by the currents of his time. In the nineteenth-century, the roles of women and children were tightly proscribed by the conventions of the bourgeoisie, emphasizing domesticity, and innocence. The book in the girl's lap is a means of shaping her young mind and embedding cultural values. As she turns the pages, the narrative literally unfolds before her, suggesting a story of prescribed identities. Yet the girl’s intense focus hints at the power and freedom that can be found through books. Weissenbruch offers a gentle, emotionally nuanced depiction of a girl on the cusp of understanding her place in the world. The work presents a space for viewers to consider the complexities of identity formation and cultural transmission.