The First Image of a Child's Art in a Painting? (1515)

Today you can get a ream of paper for virtually nothing but before 1850 unused paper was not a common thing for the majority of people. In the 1850s, a child with access to paper and the means to express themselves on it would certainly have been a restricted (and wealthy) minority.

Giovanni Francesco Caroto's "Portrait of a Young Boy holding a Child's Drawing" (above) was painted around 1515 and is likely the first artwork to depict a child's artwork.

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Thanks Maria!