Early 19th - Antique French Print - Foster Sisters Reunion Engraving - Regency Fashion - Sentimental Bond - Historical Art

This illustrated print from the Early 19th century depicts a poignant domestic scene titled 'Les Sœurs de Lait,' which translates to 'The Foster Sisters.' The central focus is a group of women, two of whom appear to be in an emotional reunion, embracing warmly. One figure is dressed in an elegant white gown characteristic of the Regency era, while another wears a more traditional or regional bonnet and apron, possibly indicating a wet nurse or rural background.

The accompanying French caption beneath the illustration reads, 'J'pouvons donc t'presser encore sur ce sein qui t'a nourrie!!', which translates to 'I can therefore press you once more against this breast that nursed you!!' This tender inscription emphasizes the deep, enduring bond between the women, likely a foster child and her wet nurse or foster mother, highlighting the intimate and familial relationships that extended beyond blood ties in society at the time.

The detailed depiction of period clothing, from empire waistlines to distinctive headwear, provides valuable insight into early 19th-century fashion and social customs surrounding childcare and sentimental connections. This historical artwork offers a glimpse into emotional narratives prevalent during its creation.

This engraving was designed by Charles Abraham Chasselat (1782–1843), a talented French painter and illustrator active during the early 19th century. It was engraved by one or more anonymous engravers working in Paris and published around 1815–1820, during the late Empire or early Restoration period. Prints of this type typically appeared in refined illustrated books such as Scènes de la vie domestique, Scènes intéressantes de la vie privée, or Contes moraux illustrés — popular collections that combined moral storytelling with delicate visual interpretation. These works reflected the sentimental and didactic spirit of the time, portraying scenes of virtue, affection, and everyday emotion within elegant bourgeois or domestic settings.