Childhood as a Theme of Interest for Artwork: A Study of Contrasting Representations of Childhood in Medieval and Post-Eighteenth Century Art

Abstract

The documentation of children and their narratives has been considered one of the least accounted for in history. It can be placed within the contribution of literature and art towards shaping the societal view, stemming from the space it provides to the representation of certain themes and identities. The presence, or lack thereof, of children from these spaces can be put under a scrutinizing light, observing the significant changes it underwent over the centuries. This paper attempts to observe the emergence of this space and its increasing intricacy over time – from children being painted in a religious light, to their one dimensional portrayal as young-adults, to an eventual, layered representation of the experience of childhood and the complexity of a child as an individual. The study will refer to several artworks throughout the course of history, contrasting medieval art with art from eighteenth century onwards. The focus will primarily be on their references to childhood and how their portrayal of children corresponds to the time the artworks were first created in.