To italienske småpiger, den ene med et lille barn på armen 1838 - 1840

Wilhelm Marstrand created this drawing, "Two Italian Little Girls, One with a Small Child in Her Arms," at an unknown date using pencil on paper. The faint lines give the work a delicate, almost ephemeral quality, evoking a sense of transient observation. The composition is divided vertically by the figures of the two girls, creating a structural contrast. The girl on the left is burdened with a child, her form compact and contained, whereas the girl on the right leans casually against a pillar, tambourine in hand, suggesting a life of music and movement. This juxtaposition subtly destabilizes conventional expectations of childhood innocence, hinting at the economic realities that force some children into premature adulthood. The drawing’s unfinished quality invites contemplation on the nature of representation and the artist's gaze. By leaving the sketch incomplete, Marstrand acknowledges the act of observing and interpreting cultural signs rather than presenting a fixed, authoritative image.