Vrouw en kind spelen verstoppertje en vrouw leert kind lopen 1834

Frédéric Bouchot made this print, "Vrouw en kind spelen verstoppertje en vrouw leert kind lopen," using etching. The scene offers a glimpse into the 19th-century French domestic life, reflecting bourgeois ideals. The print’s composition is divided into two vignettes: in one, a woman plays peek-a-boo with a child; in the other, a woman and man teach a child to walk with the aid of a goose, the words "La bêtise" inscribed below. This division hints at the structured roles within the family and the methods of child-rearing prevalent at the time. The detailed rendering of clothing and interiors offers insights into the period's material culture. The Rijksmuseum's acquisition and display of this print positions it within a narrative of Dutch and European history. Studying period journals and domestic advice manuals can further illuminate the cultural values embedded in Bouchot's work. Art history, in this case, serves as a lens through which to examine the everyday life and social norms of the past.