Kop van een man met een pijp c. 1894

Curator: "Head of a Man with a Pipe," made around 1894, offers a glimpse into the world seen through the eyes of Dutch artist Julie de Graag. Displayed here at the Rijksmuseum, this small pencil drawing captures a momentary contemplation. Editor: My first impression is one of quiet intensity. There's something very immediate in the rapidly drawn lines of the man’s profile, with much of the surrounding paper left untouched. Curator: De Graag, despite facing societal constraints as a woman artist, became quite involved in avant-garde circles. It's fascinating to see how this intimate drawing might have been perceived within the changing dynamics of artistic representation at the fin de siècle. One could argue the act of depicting a man smoking challenges the conventions of the day. Editor: Indeed. I'm struck by the tonal gradations she achieves with a simple pencil. Notice the darker strokes defining the hairline and the back of the neck contrasting with the subtle shading on his face and how little detail is dedicated to the pipe. It directs your attention to his introspective expression, if you could call it that. Curator: Also to consider is that Julie de Graag later developed a very distinct style rooted in symbolism; seeing these earlier sketches shows how those future expressions built from such traditional artistic foundations. Editor: Good point. And though minimalist, you sense the artist had a complete knowledge of anatomy; how skillfully and quickly can the medium express the subject. This almost unfinished quality grants us access to De Graag’s direct artistic vision, don’t you think? Curator: Absolutely. These drawings give us access into De Graag’s creative processing. They allow us to understand and reimagine art institutions and practices differently. I see this as part of de Graag’s rebellion against restrictive artistic representation and the male gaze. Editor: So in these light, dark and bare marks on a pale surface, we find not just a pipe smoker but de Graag experimenting with light and shadow and form, prefiguring how this head will later inform her greater portfolio. Curator: I couldn’t have said it better myself! A truly compelling, revealing drawing that highlights her own struggle for a unique artistic representation and her lasting place within social artistic change.