Twee meisjes zingen van bladmuziek 1877 - 1909

Curator: Standing here at the Rijksmuseum, we’re looking at a piece entitled "Two Girls Singing from Sheet Music," a drawing created by Louise Danse between 1877 and 1909. It appears to be crafted primarily with pencil on toned paper. Editor: My initial thought is that this has a really intimate feeling. It's monochromatic, lending to a nostalgic feeling, and the girls being so close makes them seem connected. Curator: That's an interesting observation. It's worth considering that music played a crucial role in domestic life during that period, particularly for women. Musical accomplishments were often a signifier of status and refinement, a skill that women would then use in society or pass on. The representation of girls singing together likely signifies more than mere sisterly affection. Editor: The image of singing together immediately sparks a connection to earlier choral traditions and religious artwork featuring women as part of choirs. Does that visual tie reflect social perceptions of women's roles at the time, do you think? Curator: Definitely. By the late 19th century, however, women began pursuing broader artistic careers and participating more prominently in public musical life, which inevitably altered both perceptions and depictions of female musical activity. The seemingly simple visual motif could hold quite progressive ideas within the conventions of the time, as we view it through a current, critical lens. Editor: I wonder too about the use of sheet music itself. Before recording technology became ubiquitous, it held such significance as both a communal and individual treasure. In visual language, sheet music often signifies harmony and cultivated knowledge, a language of shared experience. Curator: Right, the visual weight of printed material – a very specific technology -- communicating emotion is noteworthy for considering the power structures implied through what types of knowledge and practices society holds most important. Editor: It leaves me pondering on what could come from such practices...what possibilities can shared passions such as art making or enjoying music offer. Curator: Absolutely, reflecting on that sentiment resonates even now, thinking about what shared cultural endeavors can bring communities to flourish.