Twee vrouwen, op de rug gezien 1893

Curator: Before us is "Two Women, Seen from the Back," a pencil and ink drawing crafted by George Hendrik Breitner around 1893. It resides here at the Rijksmuseum. There’s an undeniable sketch-like quality, very raw. Editor: The sketch captures such a candid, fleeting moment. The loose strokes convey a sense of everyday life, perhaps offering a peek into the roles and realities of women during that time. The lines forming their bodies give it a strong social and historical identity! Curator: The materials contribute greatly to this. It’s not striving for the illusion of reality we might expect in a formal portrait; it's all about capturing the gesture, the stance, the very immediate presence of these women through minimal means. Breitner seemed focused on efficient image production and immediacy in making this drawing. Editor: Exactly. It prompts us to consider the narrative of labour – both Breitner's artistic labour in rapidly sketching these women, and their own implied roles, maybe as workers or perhaps simply traversing through urban space. We have to examine how identities were both constructed and perceived, placing their bodies into the historical context. Curator: There’s an interesting contrast here, too. The sketchy rendering versus the very careful attention given to certain details of their clothing. See the precise rendering of seams, belts. Editor: Which tells us something about how Breitner and his audience are framing and consuming these female figures! The choice to depict them from behind seems strategic; perhaps the aim was not to see individual portraits, but the universality of women navigating an increasingly modern landscape. Curator: Or even more practically, maybe they didn't want to pose for a formal portrait! We don't have much direct evidence, we’re making speculations now. It's through considering Breitner’s practice alongside its product and display that can tell us something about Dutch society, about class and gender during his lifetime. Editor: Yes, indeed! The act of looking becomes inherently political, shaping our interpretations. It urges me to consider gender, labour, and historical narratives surrounding the role of women within society. The seeming banality of it all hides its potent and urgent core! Curator: Well, after really diving in, my initial observation that this was “just a quick sketch” definitely proves too simplistic. Editor: I concur; that consideration has significantly transformed my immediate impression into something much more conceptually compelling.