Staande jongen met een fluit 1854 - 1907

Eberhard Cornelis Rahms made this print of a standing boy with a flute. The image invites questions about the social role of music and childhood in 19th-century Netherlands. Rahms likely made this image during the rise of Realism, when artists turned to everyday subjects. The boy’s clothing and hat, while not luxurious, suggest a level of comfort, indicative of the growing middle class. The flute suggests education and leisure, attributes that were increasingly accessible beyond the aristocracy. But the dark, somewhat indistinct background reminds us that this idealized vision of childhood was not universal. Historians delve into period documents, literature, and social studies to understand how artists like Rahms both reflected and shaped the perceptions of their time. Ultimately, this print encourages us to consider who is included and excluded from the dominant narratives of progress and prosperity.