Une Dame Nordhollandaise 1802 - 1855

Curator: It's incredibly evocative, almost spectral. Like looking at a memory. Editor: Indeed. This drawing, "Une Dame Nordhollandaise", whose creation we attribute to Carl Cristiaan Fuchs sometime between 1802 and 1855, really captures a specific kind of Romantic sensibility. And the Rijksmuseum is fortunate to hold this piece. It is composed with pencil, watercolor, and coloured pencil. We might read her posture, and the hat resting on the table, as an interesting perspective into gender expectations within early 19th century Netherlands. Curator: Right. She's poised, composed, reading intently… but there’s also a vulnerability. Her gaze is lowered. Reading as a form of empowerment but perhaps also an escape? Editor: Exactly. And consider the artist's choices here. The faintness of the watercolor imbues the scene with an aura of longing. I can't help imagining myself in her seat. What does she dream of? What's happening outside the edges of this drawing? Curator: That whisper of Romanticism really echoes the era's fixation on introspection and emotion. Placing the work in its historical moment we could consider the legacy of the Napoleonic era, that had deeply impacted Dutch identity, causing many to reassess their position, especially upper class women, such as this sitter. She is suspended in a state of contemplation perhaps brought about by feelings of instability and insecurity. Editor: A valid reading! Although, looking at the interior objects arranged near the lady, such as the flowered curtain in the mirror, I detect just a tinge of the Biedermeier comfort so characteristic of the Dutch. You’re so right, though, I bet her lace cap cost more than my paintbrushes! Curator: (Chuckles) Always a fascinating push and pull! Thank you. Editor: Thanks to you, as always. Looking at "Une Dame Nordhollandaise", I sense something deeply universal.