Sitting woman c. 1650 - 1652

Editor: Here we have "Sitting Woman" by Rembrandt van Rijn, dating back to the 1650s, rendered in ink. It’s a pretty informal portrait drawing, capturing the sitter in a relaxed pose. What stands out to me is how immediate it feels. What can you tell me about this work? Curator: This drawing provides us with insight into the realities of 17th century Dutch society, and I am interested in its position within that. This is not a formal portrait commissioned by a wealthy patron, but rather seems more intimate, perhaps depicting someone within Rembrandt’s own circle. What can this domestic portrayal suggest about power structures during that time, in relation to both class and gender? Editor: That’s interesting. I hadn't really considered the sitter’s position as being indicative of something larger, and I definitely missed that she could possibly be someone from the artist's intimate circle! Curator: Consider also the rapid, loose strokes of the ink. How might this immediacy challenge traditional notions of portraiture as reserved for the elite? Could the artist be subtly subverting those norms? Perhaps opening art up to depict ordinary people? Editor: So, by depicting someone not of high social standing, Rembrandt is making a statement? Curator: Precisely! We see here an everyday intimacy that defies expectations of the period. Also, what do you think her expression and relaxed posture suggest in terms of her position as a woman in 17th century Dutch society? Does her apparent lack of constraint challenge those conventions, too? Editor: I see what you mean! The casualness certainly seems at odds with the expected decorum of the time. I appreciate you pointing that out! I'm finding I see it now in a new light – almost as an early form of social commentary. Curator: And it invites us to consider, doesn’t it, whose stories get told, and how art can democratize representation. I'm grateful to be in conversation with you about it!