Moeder met vier kinderen 1777 - 1779

Pieter de Mare made this drawing, called 'Mother with four children', in the Netherlands, sometime in the late 18th century. The domestic scene gives us a sense of the period's family values and social structures, particularly the mother's central role in child-rearing. These were formative years for modern European society, which saw an increased emphasis on the nuclear family and the importance of maternal care. The children's clothing can also give us clues about the social status of the family, and how fashion was starting to reflect new ideas about childhood and innocence. In the Rijksmuseum's collection, this drawing can be seen as a piece of social history, reflecting the changing attitudes and norms of Dutch society in the late 1700s. To truly appreciate this work, we can consult historical archives, fashion studies, and demographic records. The image reminds us that art is always made within a specific social and institutional context, which shapes both its creation and its later interpretation.