Two Young Women and a Child Asleep

Date

1820s

Creator

The philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau wrote Emile, or On Education, a book published in 1762 that outlined the proper upbringing necessary for turning children into good citizens. It posited motherhood as a social good and women as the primary caregivers and educators of their progeny. This cult of motherhood gained traction throughout the nineteenth century. In this image—dedicated in the lower right corner to Louis-François Couché, the artist’s student and engraver—Lafitte shows us two young women watching over a peacefully sleeping child.