Huilend meisje en jongen spelend in het water c. 1900 - 1930

Curator: This is “Huilend meisje en jongen spelend in het water,” or “Crying girl and boy playing in the water,” a pen and ink drawing by Elly Verstijnen, likely created between 1900 and 1930. Editor: My first reaction is the striking contrast between the girl’s apparent sadness and the boy’s joy, despite sharing the same landscape. The stark black ink heightens the drama, doesn’t it? Curator: It really does. The composition is split, creating a diptych-like effect. On top, a girl kneels, face hidden, seemingly weeping. Below, a boy joyfully splashes through water, clouds billowing behind him. This resonates with larger societal themes of the early 20th century. The girl's grief could represent the burdens placed on women. We could relate this image to emerging dialogues about gender roles, where women face systemic obstacles, while the boy's freedom suggests the privilege afforded to him. Editor: Interesting lens. I’m more immediately drawn to how the artist uses shadow. Note how the girl's shadow is dark, solid, almost engulfing, symbolizing her sorrow, whereas the boy is lighter, free of similar darkness. Looking into the social climate of the era in which Elly created the piece, how might her position and personal circumstances as a female artist affect her perception of and expression around societal constraints? Curator: Absolutely, Elly’s gender likely informed her perspective. I wonder if we can see the artist questioning the imposed emotional labor women were subjected to versus the relative freedom granted to young boys at the time? Furthermore, there could be commentary here on childhood as a whole and the societal pressures young girls begin facing at a much earlier stage of life. It can be seen in their physical demeanor; The contrast between the figures reflects deeply ingrained norms regarding gender expression in both child and adulthood. Editor: So insightful. It’s fascinating how such simple lines can express so much. It invites a broader conversation about how imagery perpetuates and reflects gendered expectations. Thanks for sharing that Elly Verstijnen managed to fit all that complexity into one personal drawing. Curator: Indeed. The drawing becomes an intimate dialogue of the female gaze looking at both gender and circumstance. It holds an element of melancholy but with the freedom of being one's self during its creation.