Liefdespaar 1849 - 1917

Curator: It's almost ephemeral, isn't it? Like a memory fading at the edges. Editor: I agree. Today, we’re looking at “Liefdespaar” or “Couple in Love” by Matthijs Maris. It's currently held here at the Rijksmuseum. Maris worked on this between 1849 and 1917, so spanning a good part of his career. Curator: It’s mostly a play of lines really, and a remarkably effective one. The pencil strokes create a feeling of lightness and fluidity. Even though it’s just pencil on paper, it has the emotional resonance you see in some paintings. Editor: I find it fascinating how Maris grappled with Romanticism in his work, which often showcased a tension between the intimate, emotional world, and a growing, impersonal industrialized society. This drawing perhaps serves as a personal statement against those cultural changes, or maybe even an escape into one's thoughts. Curator: Absolutely. The elusiveness of the lines mirrors, perhaps intentionally, the elusive nature of love itself or human connection. There's no clear definition; just suggestion. Do you get that sense of melancholy that's typical in a lot of Romantic era works? Editor: Certainly, but I also notice that even the lack of firm definition suggests that the concept, as suggested by the title, of ‘couple’ relies more on gesture and shared space than any sort of binding line. Notice the repeated curved shapes that represent their bodies or maybe even clothing – a lot is left unresolved, to insinuate closeness. Curator: And that ambiguity can certainly make it relatable, especially considering that by the late 19th century, marriage was evolving and changing within the European context and public life. Editor: This sketch encourages us to meditate on form, shape and relation more than concrete meaning. Ultimately, the open-endedness of the lines allow a deeper involvement, personally, when one confronts themes of partnership and affect. Curator: Very true. It's a piece that resonates because it prompts us to consider what love—both its creation and sustaining—really means.