Vrouw leest voor aan een jongen en een meisje c. 1855 - 1927

This pencil drawing by August Allebé, titled "Vrouw leest voor aan een jongen en een meisje" (Woman Reads to a Boy and a Girl), depicts a woman seated on a chair reading a book aloud to a boy and a girl. The composition is simple and focused on the intimate moment of storytelling, with the woman's hand pointing to the book, engaging the children's attention. Allebé's skillful use of shading creates a sense of depth and realism, characteristic of his style, and showcases the importance of education and family in 19th-century Dutch society. The drawing is housed in the Rijksmuseum, offering viewers a glimpse into domestic life and artistic practice of the period.