Frau und Kinder am Boden sitzend 

Carl Engel made this pencil drawing of a woman and children sometime in the 19th century. It's a scene of domestic life, though the figures are sitting on the ground rather than in a home. What can the historian say about this image? Well, it’s interesting that Engel chose to portray the figures sitting on the floor. In European art, this is often associated with peasants or the poor. Is Engel trying to say something about social class? The clothing might be a clue. The mother and daughter wear simple dresses, and the mother has a headscarf. These garments suggest they are not wealthy, but that they belong to the rural population. If we knew more about Engel’s artistic training and social background, we might understand the drawing better. We could then explore how institutions such as art academies shaped his perception of class.