Moeder voedt haar baby 1842

Willem Linnig created this print, "Mother Feeding her Baby," sometime in the 19th century. It presents an intimate scene of domesticity, but it's worth considering how such images function within the broader culture of the time. Made in Belgium, this work is an etching showing a mother nursing her child, while another child gazes out of the window. The inclusion of a spinning wheel suggests this is a working-class family, and the scene may be intended to evoke sympathy for the plight of the poor. During the 19th century, prints like this were often mass-produced and circulated widely, shaping public perceptions of motherhood, childhood, and poverty. The image's meaning is shaped by its engagement with institutions such as the art market and the emerging social welfare system. To fully understand this print, we might turn to sources like census records, charity reports, and period newspapers to better understand the social and economic conditions that shaped its production and reception.