Staande vrouw met een hoofddoek 1865 - 1913

Editor: This is "Staande vrouw met een hoofddoek," or "Standing Woman with a Headscarf," a pencil drawing on paper, created sometime between 1865 and 1913. The quick, almost ephemeral quality of the lines gives it a feeling of intimacy, like we’re peeking into the artist’s sketchbook. What story do you think this work tells us? Curator: That’s an astute observation. I think the drawing is interesting for its depiction of the female figure and what it can tell us about the representation of women at the time. Consider how women, especially those in the domestic sphere, were being viewed and portrayed. Do you think this is an objective study, or might Hubrecht be making a statement here? Editor: That's a good point. The subject looks…unposed, like she was caught unaware. So, maybe there's a desire to capture something genuine, even mundane, instead of idealizing the figure. Curator: Exactly. The sketch stands in contrast to grand salon portraiture. Now, thinking about its context within the Rijksmuseum collection: What assumptions might visitors bring with them about Dutch art? And how does this more modest work challenge or complement those ideas? Editor: Well, people often think of the Dutch Masters, like Rembrandt, with their elaborate scenes and focus on wealth. This feels like a quieter, more personal moment that expands the historical view. I'd imagine seeing her ordinary image in such a big institution like this could be seen as subversive by some? Curator: I agree completely. The politics of imagery often dictates whose stories get told and how. Pieces like this force us to broaden our understanding and to think about the people who were normally excluded. Editor: I hadn't considered that the act of simply drawing and preserving this woman's image was potentially revolutionary. Thanks for helping me see this work with new eyes! Curator: My pleasure! Examining art through social lenses makes every piece so much more rewarding, don't you think?