Etende kinderen 1835 - 1899

Johann Leonhard Raab created this print, titled "Etende kinderen," sometime in the 19th century. The image depicts two children, perhaps peasants, enjoying a shared meal outdoors, in a style echoing earlier Dutch and Flemish traditions. The print offers us a glimpse into the sentimental and idealized vision of childhood that was emerging in the 19th century. Industrialization and urbanization led to new awareness of social class. In this context, the children's simple meal and rural setting may romanticize a pre-industrial way of life. The presence of the stone wall in the background could speak to the historicizing and preservation movements taking place at this time. The work, though seemingly simple, prompts us to consider the social and economic transformations that were shaping European society at the time. To understand this artwork fully, we can research the printmaking industry, social class, and changing attitudes toward childhood in 19th century Europe.