Child Climbing a Chair to Reach for a Kitten 1835 - 1903

Lorenz Frølich made this etching, "Child Climbing a Chair to Reach for a Kitten," sometime in the 19th century. It’s a charming scene, but the image's focus on domesticity and childhood hints at the values of the time. Made in Denmark, it reflects the era's emphasis on the nuclear family and the idealization of childhood innocence. Notice the details – the well-furnished room, the child's dress, the presence of a pet rabbit. These visual codes suggest a comfortable, middle-class setting. The rise of the bourgeoisie in 19th-century Europe led to new social structures and cultural norms, including an emphasis on private life and the importance of raising children in a nurturing environment. The kitten, an object of the child’s desire, could be said to stand in for the rewards of domestic life itself. To get a deeper sense of the context, we can examine children's literature, conduct demographic research, and consult historical records to understand what childhood meant in 19th-century Denmark. It’s through this kind of historical investigation that we can understand the artwork's subtle commentary on the social values of its time.