Drie vrouwen bidden buiten bij een kruis 1830 - 1881

Curator: Let’s turn our attention to “Three Women Praying Outdoors by a Cross," an engraving housed here at the Rijksmuseum. Adolphe Mouilleron created this image sometime between 1830 and 1881. Editor: It feels both intimate and strangely distant. The grayscale and the small scale amplify that effect, almost like looking into a memory—or a really detailed dream. What’s immediately striking is the way the cross dominates the scene despite its rough, almost natural appearance. Curator: Yes, the cross is central both compositionally and symbolically. In Christian iconography, of course, the cross represents sacrifice, redemption, and faith. Its placement in an outdoor setting, amidst what seems like wild, untamed growth, is especially significant. It merges the spiritual with the natural world, creating a sacred space within the everyday. Note also the women: they each embody different forms of piety through their poses and placement. Editor: That's really insightful, actually. It also lends itself to this air of solemnity and quiet contemplation, even a bit of melancholia. I mean, look at how much detail Mouilleron packed into this little thing. The textures of their dresses, the wild foliage around the cross – there's a definite realist leaning there, an impulse to document truthfully. Makes you wonder what sort of statement he was making about devotion and the everyday. Curator: He was, in essence, creating a universal symbol. A timeless and relatable portrayal of faith rooted in the realities of 19th century life, which speaks through a visual language recognizable across time. Think about the significance of praying outdoors at that time. Were they barred from spaces, reclaiming their spirituality by integrating the spiritual within the ordinary? The symbolism resonates today. Editor: Right! This tiny piece, more than just devotion—maybe it's a quiet rebellion, too? The intersection between landscape and figure—and spirituality as part of it. I love the little dramas held in a small scene. Curator: A compelling reminder of art's enduring ability to portray profound human experiences in subtle ways, and across centuries. Editor: Yeah, makes you appreciate that little cross... it’s not just wood. It's hope, struggle, history, all in one simple shape.