Bébé fait une surprise a sa maman 1863

Curator: Here we have Lorenz Frølich’s "Bébé fait une surprise a sa maman," or "Baby Makes a Surprise for her Mommy," created in 1863. It's a genre scene rendered through woodcut printmaking, held here at the SMK. Quite charming, isn’t it? Editor: My initial feeling is one of wistful curiosity. It is such a lovely intimate moment, a peek into domestic life of the era. The soft lines and monochrome palette contribute to its tenderness. The child almost disappears in the clothing piled inside the drawers, creating this sense of youthful enthusiasm. Curator: It absolutely encapsulates that era's values centered on the domestic sphere, where children were often idealized, representing innocence. Frølich was known for narrative illustrations, so it’s fascinating to see his interpretation of daily life elevated. The inclusion of the original text below the drawing adds depth and clearly shows how proud she is in managing the household’s laundry after its delivery. Editor: The scale feels crucial too, though; the artist makes the task larger than life, and through the child’s stature, her innocence contrasts dramatically with the mountain of linens. The humor is there, I think, and the work really speaks about order, about a kind of self-directed domesticity in her game of tidying. There is real wit and joy in it. Curator: Wit and joy shaped by societal expectations, certainly. The work highlights the social construction of childhood. Think of all those popular paintings featuring kids doing very mature things at a very young age! So it's never truly innocent, of course, as its meanings are shaped and determined by socio-economic status of the patrons who commissioned the paintings to be done, and by the values imposed upon their young children as they aged. Editor: True, it is a negotiation of childhood's public representation and private space. It gives space for the children's participation to create the image through interactions. This playful interpretation offers an emotional engagement to the audience who can view through multiple points-of-view. I find such resonance in how simple domestic activity of helping and contributing can turn to be quite impactful in society. Curator: Precisely. We often overlook these unassuming glimpses of everyday life when looking at visual culture, but these details actually illuminate society at the time in really powerful ways. It has been lovely thinking through all of that, actually! Editor: A pleasant surprise indeed! It’s a reminder that true art is always about those seemingly small moments that hold much bigger ideas in play.