Openstaande kast met spullen c. 1871 - 1876

Editor: This is "Openstaande kast met spullen," or "Open Wardrobe with Things," a pencil drawing on paper by George Hendrik Breitner, created sometime between 1871 and 1876. It's currently held at the Rijksmuseum. I find the sketchiness quite intimate; it feels like a glimpse into a very personal space. What catches your eye? Curator: It's the unassuming nature of the objects depicted that interests me most. This isn’t a royal chamber or a grand landscape. It is instead an open wardrobe. It's so ordinary, and yet within its contents, and surrounding objects, there is such potential for meaning. Note the two classical figurines, they look to be supporting a vessel. What stories do these objects tell, about aspirations, and maybe the everyday lives and cultural values of the people who owned these things? Does it make you wonder about its composition and intention? Editor: I suppose so! Were such detailed drawings common as finished works, or was this meant to be a preparatory sketch? Curator: Sketches like these can function as both. Consider the recurring motif of the open door or vessel throughout art history – what psychological or symbolic weight does the "open" hold here, inviting the viewer into a private world? Perhaps it reflects on access to knowledge, secrets, or even one’s inner self? Look closer at the angle and how light fills the sketch, adding dimensionality and intrigue. Editor: That’s a perspective I hadn't considered. It's more than just a wardrobe; it's a portal into another time. Curator: Precisely. Breitner's skillful sketching imbues everyday objects with symbolic meaning. Editor: It certainly gives new meaning to looking at everyday items! Curator: Yes! Even now, looking back on everyday objects in art and how it gives us context to interpret historical, emotional and cultural stories is impactful.