Drinking Milk 1715 - 1763

"Drinking Milk" is an engraving by Jean Daullé, made sometime in the mid-18th century. The print depicts two children sharing a bowl of milk, set against a pastoral landscape. It reflects the era’s romanticized view of rural life, but also reveals complex issues of class and identity. During the 1700s, childhood emerged as a distinct phase of life, yet these children aren't simply cherubic figures. Their clothing, though simple, hints at a life of labor, far removed from the leisure of the aristocracy. What does it mean to depict these children with such tenderness, and how might it play into the fantasies of the upper classes? Daullé's work invites us to consider who is seen, who is unseen, and how innocence is constructed. The engraving touches upon the universal themes of sustenance, friendship, and the simple joys of life. It also reminds us of the social structures that determine how such joys are distributed.