Zittende vrouw 1830 - 1887

Johan Hendrik Koelman made this pencil drawing of a seated woman at an unknown date. The work is now in the Rijksmuseum. Koelman lived during a time of great social change. From the mid-1800s onwards, artists increasingly turned their attention to everyday life, often depicting common people in a way that challenged the traditional hierarchies of power. This artwork could be viewed in that context. It portrays a woman who seems to be resting, perhaps after work. Her simple clothing suggests she is not wealthy. The artist neither idealizes her beauty nor criticizes her social standing. To understand it better, we would research the social and cultural context of the Netherlands during Koelman's lifetime. We could look into the history of fashion, gender roles, and class structures. By analyzing historical records, literature, and other art from that period, we could gain a deeper understanding of this drawing's meaning and significance.