Twee kinderen, van opzij 1847 - 1899

This sketch, made by Jacob Maris, captures two children with a tenderness that belies its simple form. See how their heads are inclined, mirroring each other in quiet contemplation. This motif of children in profile is a recurring theme throughout art history. Consider the ancient Roman funerary portraits, where profiles immortalized loved ones, their gazes fixed on eternity. Like those portraits, Maris's children evoke a sense of timelessness, capturing a fleeting moment and making it enduring. The slight tilt of their heads, a gesture of humility or introspection, echoes in countless devotional images across cultures. From the bowed heads of worshippers in medieval icons to the sorrowful expressions of figures in Renaissance paintings, this gesture speaks to a universal human experience. Though Maris may not have intended to evoke these specific associations, the collective memory of such images resonates within us. We are reminded of the fragility and innocence of youth, and of our own connection to the past. This simple sketch is a powerful reminder of how images transcend time, carrying emotional and cultural weight from one era to the next, their forms evolving but their essence remaining.