Twee moeders met kinderen 1777 - 1779

Curator: Before us we have a pen drawing on paper entitled "Two Mothers with Children," dating back to the years 1777-1779, and believed to be by Pieter de Mare. It is currently held at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: It feels quite intimate, like a glimpse into a private moment, though sketched rather plainly. The outlines suggest the figures, but it lacks strong emotional details. Curator: De Mare, during this time, was heavily influenced by genre painting, often focusing on the quotidian lives of ordinary people. Look closely at the simple clothing of the women. Consider what everyday garments signified. Was there an active choice in presenting that clothing to the audience? What statements did people like De Mare seek to present, or hide, through material choices? Editor: For me, the way the mothers huddle with the children evokes a sense of protection and nurturing. Even without explicit facial expressions, the slight inclination of their heads, the arrangement of bodies – it all speaks volumes about the bond between parent and child. The basket suggests providing. Curator: And how do we understand the use of pen on paper at this moment? Pen and ink offered portability. Its linear directness invited a raw view of subject matter as material and record, but the roughness you are talking about seems at odds with traditional aesthetics, almost subversive if the work seeks entry to accepted culture. Is this about how a drawing becomes something or about it becoming an experience? Editor: That linearity also reinforces a sense of memory—fleeting moments captured, like impressions of daily life. The lines are almost hieroglyphic in their ability to trigger memory. Look at the clothing –it creates its own memory, evoking not just that time, but echoes of motherhood through many generations. The artist is referencing more than one specific mother but making something universal. Curator: Well, examining its materiality alongside its depiction allows us to challenge received notions. Editor: Agreed, its power really lies in its intimate connection to larger cultural themes. I shall keep it with me.