A mother’s love 

James Sant painted this image of a sleeping child at some point in the 19th century. Note the shadow of a woman looming protectively behind the child. In Victorian Britain, there was a new emphasis on the nuclear family, and paintings like this promoted the idea that a mother’s love was essential to raising a moral citizen. The image also speaks to debates about child labor laws at the time. Unlike many poor children, this one is safe and asleep in a comfortable bed. But we should remember that Sant was a very successful portrait painter who was eventually appointed Principal Painter in Ordinary to Queen Victoria. So the image should also be understood in the context of British Imperialism and an economy built on exploited labor. To better understand the social context of the artwork, we can look at census data, read parliamentary debates, and examine Victorian periodicals. Remember that every image reinforces certain beliefs and values, even when they appear natural.