Mädchen mit Kind auf dem Arm 

This artwork, titled "Mädchen mit Kind auf dem Arm," or "Girl with Child in Arm," was created by Philipp Rumpf in Germany, though the exact date remains unknown. The image presents us with a mother holding her child. In nineteenth-century Europe, representations of motherhood were deeply intertwined with societal expectations and ideals of domesticity. Germany, at this time, was undergoing significant social and political change. Traditional roles of women were both celebrated and contested. Rumpf's sketch invites us to consider the place of women in German society, and the emotional and physical labor involved in child-rearing. The artist's choice of medium, a sketch, also plays a role. Sketches were often used as preparatory studies for larger works, but they can also stand alone as intimate glimpses into the artist's process and the world around them. As historians, we might consult census records, social surveys, and publications about motherhood in 19th century Germany to fully understand the social and institutional contexts that shaped this poignant image.