L'Enfance 1739 - 1749

"L'Enfance" (Childhood) is a print by French artist Jean-Joseph Baléchou, completed between 1739 and 1749. The print depicts a scene of domestic life with three figures: an adult male seated with two young boys standing before him. The man is reading a book while the children are listening attentively. The work is a poignant depiction of the innocence of childhood, but also suggests the weight of responsibility and learning that comes with it. The print is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.