Kind laat slecht rapport aan man zien 1836

Auguste Raffet created this print, "Kind laat slecht rapport aan man zien," sometime in the mid-19th century. Raffet, deeply influenced by the Napoleonic era, often depicted scenes of military life and French society. This domestic scene offers a glimpse into the dynamics of a bourgeois family, revealing societal expectations around gender, education, and authority. Here, a young boy sheepishly presents his report card to his father, while the women are relegated to domestic tasks in the background. The father, presumably the head of the household, is seated and occupies a central position, underscoring patriarchal structures. The child’s anxiety is almost palpable. His future hinges on his academic performance, reflecting the period's emphasis on education as a means for social mobility. "Le billet de Contentement," as the inscription below the image calls it, is ironic. The scene is far from content, charged with emotional tension that speaks to the pressures placed on children and the weight of paternal expectations.