Twee staande vrouwen 1711 - 1781

Editor: This drawing, "Twee staande vrouwen," which translates to "Two Standing Women," is attributed to Hendrik Busserus and dates to somewhere between 1711 and 1781. It's rendered in pen on paper and held at the Rijksmuseum. I’m struck by the linear quality of the work, and how effectively it conveys the figures' forms using what looks like relatively simple strokes. What do you see in this piece? Curator: What impresses me is the economy of line and form. Note the subtle variations in line weight used to define the folds of their garments and the contours of their faces. The artist has masterfully created a sense of depth and volume using solely line and tone, something that you mentioned initially. Ask yourself, what principles of semiotics could one use to decode the meaning of their gestures, and attire, in relation to societal norms of that era? Editor: Semiotics… So you are encouraging me to analyse not only the composition of the image, but also its implied message through symbols such as clothing? Their garments are simple. Curator: Precisely. Consider how their dress and posture – specifically their long dresses, high collars and buttoned tops, create a visual dialogue between austerity and contained form. Are these symbolic forms merely representative of a woman of a certain socio-economic class, or something more nuanced? What does their specific combination tell us about their self presentation or position within the larger social structure of their time? Is there a deeper reading of what this form means? Editor: That's interesting! It shifts my focus away from just admiring the artist's technique to considering the figures as constructed identities through artistic representation. So, I am interpreting the meaning through its form and not merely appreciating its aesthetic value. Curator: Exactly. By considering the intrinsic formal qualities, like line, tone, and composition, you have begun a discourse through which symbolic systems within a society can be investigated. The piece is about so much more than just the aesthetic appeal.