Millet in zijn tuin 1890

Editor: Here we have "Millet in zijn tuin," a pencil drawing created around 1890 by Jan Veth. It’s currently held here at the Rijksmuseum. It strikes me as a very intimate portrait; the rough strokes almost feel like a secret glimpse. What do you see in this work? Curator: Well, the beauty lies in the symbols and how they connect to our collective memory. Consider the garden, the 'tuin.' In Western consciousness, what does a garden often represent? Editor: A place of peace, maybe? Or nature tamed? Curator: Precisely. But look at how Veth renders it – it’s not lush, but rather a darker backdrop. And Millet himself; how is he positioned? Editor: He seems quite grounded, but not formally posed, his hat is in his hand like he's been interrupted in his task. His clothes are loose, the drawing soft. He’s not depicted as some untouchable genius. Curator: Exactly. This work becomes about humanizing Millet, stripping away layers of idealization and allowing us to engage with the subject on a more personal level. How does the medium– pencil on paper– add to the emotion? Editor: It makes it more immediate and raw, the materials mirror the everyday nature of the subject Curator: It does. This piece becomes an accessible and humane encounter, grounded in realism rather than romantic idealization. That, to me, speaks volumes. Editor: I’ve never thought of portraiture quite this way, as almost a symbolic meeting between the artist and subject reflected through shared culture. Curator: And sometimes challenged. It all lies in interpretation, searching beyond what is seen.