Staande vrouwen c. 1882 - 1912

Editor: This is "Standing Women" by George Hendrik Breitner, a pencil drawing dating from around 1882 to 1912, housed right here in the Rijksmuseum. There's something so immediate about it, like a fleeting glimpse of women on the street. What layers do you see in this piece? Curator: This seemingly simple sketch opens up a window into the lives of women in Breitner's Amsterdam. Think about the socio-economic realities for women at this time. What roles were they allowed to occupy? This sketch, in its unassuming nature, actually pushes against the traditional art historical narrative, centering the ordinary lives of women rather than idealized versions. Editor: So, their very anonymity is a statement? Curator: Precisely. And consider the male gaze prevalent in art of that era. By depicting these women from behind, Breitner subtly avoids objectification, offering instead a sense of their movement, their purpose, without overly sexualizing or idealizing them. It acknowledges their presence without exploiting it. How do you think this informs our understanding of female representation at the time? Editor: It's fascinating to think about how even a sketch can challenge prevailing norms. It makes me consider how much the choices an artist makes impacts how we read a work of art. Curator: Exactly! And this is the beauty of engaging with art through a socio-political lens. It is about challenging ourselves and deconstructing the implicit bias that are deeply ingrained. It invites you to really question who has the power, whose voice gets amplified, and what alternative perspectives can emerge from even the simplest sketches. Editor: I'll definitely look at sketches and figure drawings in a new way from now on! Thank you!