Vrouwen in verschillende zithoudingen c. 1840 - 1860

Charles Rochussen created this drawing entitled ‘Women in various seated positions’ using graphite on paper. The composition presents four distinct studies of women, each occupying a unique posture. The minimalist use of line work accentuates the shape and form of their dresses. Rochussen focuses on the structure of each figure, reducing their identities to mere sketches. The graphite lines give the women a ghostly, transparent quality. His interest lies not in capturing individual likeness but rather in studying how the fall of fabric and the contours of the female form interact with the surrounding space. The semiotic system employed here relies on subtle details: the slight tilt of a head, the arrangement of folds in a dress. These elements combine to convey a sense of fleeting moments. The linear style invites us to consider the inherent dynamism of representation itself, where each line both defines and destabilizes fixed meanings.