De kleine tekenaar 1865

Hugo Bürkner created this print called "The Little Draftsman" sometime in the 19th century. Here we see a child, relaxing on a chaise lounge, happily sketching on a drawing board. The image speaks to the increasing popularity of childhood as a distinct phase of life and the rise of leisure among the middle classes in Europe. Consider the setting: the child isn't in a schoolroom, or working, but reclining in a domestic space. This suggests the importance of education and the arts in shaping the lives of children during this period. To understand this work better, we might research the history of childhood, the development of art education for children, and the role of images in constructing ideas about youth and creativity. Through this, we can examine how this work reflects the values and aspirations of its time.