Albert Anker paintings

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This was about 130 years ago. There had been a war, and many children had become orphans. They were collected by the town authorities, and then rich people came to look at them and adopt some.

As you can see from the children’s faces, they understood, feared or even hated what was going on. See how they try to back away from the advancing benefactors.

And in the foreground there is a little poor boy being lead away by a rich lady and her  son. Look how Anker caught the expression of pain and humiliation on the kid’s face.

Notice the typical Swiss inner-city architecture.

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This is the notary public.

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This is some 160 years ago, and things have changed a lot since, but  kids haven’t. The girls are learning, but the boys are bored stiff or are trying to entertain each other.

On the right there are two intelligent looking ones that are taken up by a most interesting private conversation. One of them could be a future lawyer and the other one, seen from the back, a doctor, and just beside them is the kid that needs to steal all of the show. He would be hollering to the photographer. Maybe he will become a politician or a bum.

And in front of them all,  the master of ceremonies poorly paid to keep the kids from breaking out of the cage. What do parents expect?

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They are on a little excursion. There are more girls than boys. Girls had to help at home all year around, whereas  boys were needed when there was work to do in the fields.

Many of the children are barefoot. Shoes were expensive. There is a little girl in black and first in line. She is the only one well dressed.

 

Learning How to Knit

All of these pictures are in public domain at http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Anker, most with large versions of 1.5 megas or more..

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