Class_reading

Citation

• Duncum, Paul. Images of Childhood: A Visual History From Stone to Screen. London: Bloomsbury Visual Arts, 2023.

• Bloomsbury Collections. Web. 11 Mar. 2025. http://dx.doi.org/10.5040/9781350299962.

• Accessed from: www.bloomsburycollections.com. Accessed on: Tue Mar 11 2025 12:32:19 AEDT.

Introduction

• The discussion of childhood imagery highlights the notion that "Who sees a child sees nothing." (An early sixteenth-century saying)

• Emphasizes the cultural construction of childhood, and variations in its representation over time, especially the focus on children during the Renaissance.

• This chapter provides a linear history of how children became subjects worthy of picturing. Each following chapter will elaborate on these developments.

Antiquity

• In ancient civilizations (e.g., Southeast Asia, Egypt, Greece, Rome), children were often depicted in various contexts.

  • Reasons for depiction:

    • Religious devotion, indicating political succession, boasting of plunder, memorializing deceased children.

    • First images of children emerged in the 4th millennium BCE.

    • Role of mother goddesses symbolizing fertility.

• In ancient Egypt, children appear from the sixth dynasty, often depicted in scenes of family and divinity (e.g., Isis and Horus).

  • Hieroglyphs such as a small figure with a hand in its mouth indicate children's behavior and societal role.

• Egyptian art shows affection towards children in depictions of family life, contrasting the formal royal portraits that still exhibit signs of care and tenderness.

Ancient Greeks

• Children in ancient Greece were depicted in various forms, including ceramics, walls, and sculptures.

  • Development in art:

    • The representation shifted towards observable nature and emotional connections during the Hellenistic period.

    • Pederasty influenced the eroticized imagery of children around this time.

  • Myths depicting children's behaviors, plays, everyday scenes alongside adults’ actions indicated an interest in children's morality and future behaviors.

  • Children commonly illustrated in funerary sculptures showing affection with adults, emphasizing poignant family bonds.

Ancient Rome

• Romans depicted children with realistic attention to individual features, establishing their significance within family dynamics.

  • Augustus's regime promoted family imagery for propaganda, tying child depictions to political ideologies of procreation and motherhood.

    • Children shown with affection in family portraits, signifying their importance for political succession.

Medieval Period

• With the rise of Christianity, imagery of children became mostly limited to religious contexts; portrayal focused on the infant Jesus.

  • Transformation in art:

    • Shift towards abstraction, rendering children unrecognizable by their features, masking their innocence as spiritual rather than physical.

    • Few representations of childhood or individual characteristics, mostly as symbols of doctrine, distancing away from earlier sentiments.

Renaissance

• Humanism in the Renaissance revived interest in childhood, expanding representations to include realistic portrayals in both sacred and secular contexts.

  • The visual arts shifted back to an emphasis on naturalistic portrayals.

  • Images of Mary and Jesus reflect developing affection, yet maintaining a divine significance.

  • Art representations became more liberal, reflecting the affectionate interactions between adult figures and children.

• Rise of the individual child as a subject, alongside themes of family and nature.

Seventeenth Century

• A new appreciation for children emerged, reflected in more individualized portrayals rather than collective family depictions.

  • The interest in children's individuality showcased a shift in societal values, focusing on innocence and individuation.

  • Artists like Rubens celebrated child's qualities independent of adult narratives, depicting their natural behavior.

Eighteenth Century

• Significant affection was exhibited in artistic representations of children coupled with rising individualism.

  • Pierre Rousseau’s philosophy that children should be nurtured reflects this sentiment and encompasses broader educational reforms.

  • Ordinary children depicted with natural warmth and familial bonds, showcasing individual personalities.

Nineteenth Century

• The Industrial Revolution dramatically influenced perceptions of childhood, contrasting the idealized innocence with grim realities of child labor.

  • Artistic representations oscillated between idyllic portrayals and depictions of hardship.

  • Child performers and representations of poverty emerged as societal reflections of disenfranchisement and sympathy.

Twentieth Century

• With technological advances and mass media, childhood images proliferated.

  • Photographers captured families and children, commodifying childhood within popular culture.

  • Changes in society led to depictions reflecting both innocence and victimhood.

• Contemporary ideas continued to explore the duality of children’s nature in art, aligned with societal anxieties about childhood innocence and corruption.

Twenty-First Century

• Digital advancements enabled ubiquitous sharing and representation of children across global platforms.

• There remains contention over interpretations of childhood innocence, with media depicting conflicting portrayals of vulnerability and precociousness.

  • The evolution of children's imagery illustrates historical and cultural shifts in understanding and valuing childhood.

The Social Construction of Childhood

Childhood is a socially constructed concept, influenced by cultural, historical, and societal contexts. This argument can be supported through the following examples:

1. Historical Variation in Childhood Perception: Historically, societies have defined childhood differently, impacting how children are perceived and treated. For instance, during the Industrial Revolution, childhood was often characterized by harsh labor conditions, contrasting sharply with contemporary views emphasizing innocence and protection. This historical disparity highlights that childhood is not a universal experience but rather a construct shaped by societal values and economic conditions.

2. Cultural Differences in Childhood Roles: In many cultures, children's roles within the family and society vary significantly. For example, in some Indigenous cultures, children are seen as integral members of the community with responsibilities and roles akin to adults. In contrast, Western societies often emphasize play and education as primary aspects of childhood. This demonstrates that societal norms dictate how childhood is constructed and understood differently across cultures.

These examples illustrate the argument that childhood operates within a social framework, informed by the values and expectations of the society one resides in. As Paul Duncum in Images of Childhood: A Visual History From Stone to Screen discusses, the representation of childhood has evolved, reflecting shifts in societal attitudes and highlighting how childhood itself is not merely a biological stage but a complex social construct.