Vrouw van Richard Roland Holst in bed 1878 - 1938

Curator: Here we have Richard Roland Holst's pencil drawing, "Vrouw van Richard Roland Holst in bed," created sometime between 1878 and 1938. Editor: There’s a striking intimacy to this sketch. The soft gradations of the pencil give the impression of delicate skin and a heavy, warm blanket pulled up to the neck. It’s a very private moment captured. Curator: Holst's decision to portray his wife in such a vulnerable state invites us to consider the dynamics of their relationship. Was this image ever meant to be public? Does the choice of such a subject matter normalize such representations of women? Editor: Looking at the hatching and cross-hatching, you see the way he’s built up form and shadow. There’s a clear understanding of the planes of the face, even in its relaxed, sleeping state. It seems more than a casual sketch; it looks to me more like a sustained study. Curator: I think the intimate nature of this pencil drawing also needs to be considered within the tradition of romanticism that saw a proliferation of depictions focused on interiority and emotion, particularly where the domestic sphere and idealized female were at the core. What, then, do we do with the question of the male gaze when placed against themes of tenderness? Editor: I do think it can be both. There’s an economy of line here that contributes to the dreamy mood. Consider how just a few strokes define the curve of her cheek, the weight of the blanket. These aren't overly academic and exact contours; Holst suggests, he doesn’t state outright. Curator: I find this piece intriguing precisely because it generates more questions than answers, as we consider art's place in constructing our understanding of gender and domesticity. Editor: Absolutely. It's precisely in the subtleties of his lines and shading that it becomes such an evocative image and leaves the viewer wanting more.