Jongen en meisje met pop 1777 - 1779

Pieter de Mare created this miniature line drawing of a boy and girl with a doll in the late eighteenth century. De Mare lived during a time of social upheaval, as Enlightenment ideals were challenging traditional hierarchies. His etching presents a seemingly innocent depiction of childhood, yet it also reflects the period’s complex attitudes towards gender and class. Notice how the children appear to be playing at adult roles. The girl, slightly smaller, is dressed in a smock, and the boy wears a hat, holding the doll in a protective way. Dolls like these were more than toys; they taught children how to act out the roles they were expected to perform later in life. Consider how the children’s expressions and postures, though simply rendered, evoke a sense of both playfulness and seriousness. This artwork offers us a glimpse into the social conditioning of children during the Enlightenment, inviting us to reflect on how we learn and internalize societal norms from a young age.