God mad 1861

Lorenz Frølich created this evocative drawing, titled 'God mad', capturing a seated child at mealtime. Frølich, living through the 19th century, experienced a period of immense social change. His art often engages with themes of childhood and innocence, reflecting the era’s sentimental view of children as emblems of purity and hope. There is a sense of anticipation in the image. Is the food really 'good' as the title suggests? Or is the child hesitant? This work invites us to reflect on the cultural narratives around childhood. We see the child presented with a vision of nourishment, but the emotional reality is ambiguous. Frølich’s piece is rooted in the societal values of his time, but offers a glimpse into the complex emotional lives of children and their experiences of the world. What does this image evoke for you? Does it recall memories of childhood meals, or perhaps questions about the expectations placed upon us from a young age?