Jongen en meisje met pop 1777 - 1779

Curator: Immediately, the density of the marks on the page and the relatively squat figures gives this a feeling of robust solidity. Editor: That's a good way to put it. What we are looking at here is a drawing entitled "Boy and Girl with Doll," created between 1777 and 1779 by Pieter de Mare. It is currently held in the Rijksmuseum. Curator: Look how De Mare creates the illusion of depth. He has used layers of cross-hatching to create form and shadow, giving depth to their clothes and the space around them, quite a detailed observation from the artist. Editor: And note how the representation of childhood reflects contemporary social structures. Children's clothing mirrored adult fashion, representing a miniature version of the social hierarchy they were expected to grow into, and social values placed upon childhood in the late 18th century. Curator: Absolutely! And while the faces aren't exquisitely detailed, De Mare masterfully captures a distinct character for each figure. The boy exudes a certain, perhaps overprotective, energy. The girl a sense of self-possessed delight, even coyness, maybe. Their interaction, as a little microdrama, is subtly observed. Editor: The materiality certainly lends itself to this feel. This artwork, created with pencil and pen on paper, emphasizes the accessibility of drawing as a medium. The artist, in depicting these two young figures, situates the viewer as an unseen observer of an un-staged everyday occurrence, as if catching children at play. Curator: What strikes me most is the sense of immediacy. As if this were a spontaneous glimpse of life—quick, decisive strokes capturing a transient moment with touching candor and naturalness. Editor: The intersection of observation and societal forces always fascinates me with works like this. It’s not just a pretty sketch. Curator: Yes, an ostensibly simple sketch yields plenty through form alone! A rich testament to his mastery of a challenging medium and of observational storytelling.