Letje and Lizzy Ansingh 

Thérèse Schwartze sketched Letje and Lizzy Ansingh, capturing a moment of domesticity and quiet industry. We observe one girl seated at a table, engrossed in writing, while the other reclines with a book, her legs crossed in a pose of relaxed contemplation. Note the pose of the seated girl. The very act of writing can be seen as an introspective gesture—a reaching into the self for expression. Throughout time, this motif of writing has appeared in countless artworks. From ancient scribes immortalized in hieroglyphs to Renaissance scholars depicted with quill and parchment, writing has been used to convey knowledge, power, and self-awareness. Consider, for instance, how Caravaggio portrayed Saint Jerome—another instance of the introspective intellectual at work, pen in hand. Observe the evolution of this archetype across different eras and cultures. In each iteration, the act of writing reflects the intellectual and emotional spirit of its time. This simple act engages viewers on a deep, subconscious level, connecting us to a shared human experience.