Vrouw met kind in de armen 1752 - 1789

Curator: Here we have a pen and ink drawing, "Vrouw met kind in de armen"—or "Woman with child in her arms"—created by Caspar Jacobsz. Philips, sometime between 1752 and 1789. It's currently held here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: You know, it’s fascinating. Looking at this sketch, I feel a surprising tenderness. The lines are so simple, almost frantic, yet they capture the weight of the baby, the curve of the mother's arm, with real emotion. Curator: Absolutely. And thinking about its historical moment—this was during a period of social upheaval and changing roles. We can interpret it through the lens of maternal representation, thinking about how images of motherhood were evolving in response to broader socio-political shifts. Consider Enlightenment ideals and their impact on family structure. Editor: See, I didn't get any of that! I just felt like she was singing a lullaby. But yes, it also hits me that we might be catching a glimpse of genuine human connection beyond any societal expectation. The artist uses this hurried, restless mark-making—like a whispered secret. It almost feels illicit. Curator: That resonates. And perhaps the sketch format is key. It isn't a formal portrait meant for public consumption. This immediacy and intimacy make it a valuable document when considering, for instance, the private lives of women in the late 18th century. We have to look at the artistic conventions around motherhood, as a lived experience. Editor: I also love the background, so rough and abstract, it contrasts so beautifully with the subjects. Is the figure in nature? Or is the rough hatching only there to force our eye back to the figures, and to convey its essence of intimacy. Curator: A keen observation, certainly in line with the Rococo penchant for using natural imagery to evoke feeling, though handled in this drawing with particular freedom. Editor: You know, I came in thinking this was a sweet sketch of a Madonna-like image. But I am leaving with the feeling I've encountered something more immediate, more true. Something of how that feeling truly is. Curator: Exactly. Art provides a way to expand our understanding of what motherhood, and humanity looked like in different eras.