Moeder met kind op schoot 1770 - 1825

Simon Andreas Krausz made this sketch, "Mother with Child on Lap," using graphite on paper sometime in the late 18th or early 19th century. It is a quick study, a glimpse of domesticity, rendered with minimal detail. Krausz was working in a period where the role of women was being reimagined, particularly within the domestic sphere. This sketch, though simple, participates in the era's broader interest in the sentimental and moral education of children, spearheaded by figures like Rousseau. Images of mothers caring for children became increasingly popular, reflecting and reinforcing evolving social values. As art historians, we can turn to sources like conduct books, educational treatises, and even popular literature of the time to better understand how Krausz's work both reflected and contributed to the changing social landscape of family life in the Netherlands. Understanding the institutional forces and the social conditions that shape artistic production helps us reveal the meanings embedded in even the simplest sketch.