Jongen en meisje met pop 1777 - 1779

Curator: This drawing at the Rijksmuseum is titled "Boy and Girl with Doll," completed by Pieter de Mare sometime between 1777 and 1779. Editor: My first impression is of something raw, almost grotesque. The subjects have a naive quality, but the cross-hatching and bluntness feel far from idealized. It's captivating, yet slightly disturbing. Curator: That rawness is typical of genre paintings of the Rococo. Notice how the artist rendered the figures—stark lines and bold outlines without the subtleties of classical realism. Yet it conveys an honest glimpse into the era's perception of childhood and social class. Editor: Visually, the lines convey an impressive sense of depth and texture, especially considering its monochrome execution. De Mare captures subtle details of the costumes; the boy’s slouched posture creates a palpable sense of awkwardness that reinforces its unique quality. I want to consider how he plays with shape to give the composition its character. Curator: Their garments are reflective of the social symbolism that they convey through material markers of identity. We need to think about childhood during that time period and the representation of identity within art, where figures like these have a particular resonance across the years. What are they really doing? It feels more honest than the posed portraits we often see. Editor: Right. And it comes down to the simple geometric structure—the almost perfect rectangles create an inner dynamism of form. Note also how the line quality itself subtly varies. At some points the figures have been re-touched with a lighter hand. The whole thing vibrates in front of the viewer. Curator: Pieter de Mare's composition allows us to peer into the daily life of the 18th century, as they were figuring out the relationship of social symbolism to childhood in art. I feel these choices made with this Rococo lens leave it up to us to decide where the subject places in time. Editor: The penwork may be basic, but the subtle modulation and the overall sense of structural coherence elevates it beyond simple representation. It provides an engaging piece to dissect formally, allowing room for various theoretical approaches.