Zittende jongen met hoed op schoot bij een deuropening 1763 - 1826

Abraham van Strij created this drawing of a seated boy with a hat in his lap, sometime around the turn of the 19th century, with pen in gray and brown ink and brush in gray. Van Strij was working at a time when the Dutch art world was beginning to institutionalize itself, with art societies becoming more prominent. Artists like Van Strij had to think carefully about how to situate themselves in this changing landscape. This drawing reflects a broader interest in everyday life and the working class, a theme that resonated with the social and political shifts happening in the Netherlands. The boy's relaxed posture and simple clothing contrast with the formal portraiture of the elite, suggesting a shift in artistic focus towards more democratic subjects. To fully understand this artwork, it is important to look at the exhibition records and publications from the time it was made. This will tell us a lot about the social values and artistic debates that shaped its initial reception. Ultimately, this image reminds us that art is never made in a vacuum; it always reflects the social conditions of its time.