Koppen van mannen, vrouwen en een kind c. 1892

Julie de Graag made this sketch, 'Koppen van mannen, vrouwen en een kind', featuring heads of men, women, and a child, using graphite. De Graag came into her own as an artist at a time when there was increasing awareness about gender roles and the societal expectations placed on women. The obscured faces, represented by dense, dark lines, invite contemplation on the nature of identity and representation. Who are these figures? What do they mean? Are they intentionally blurred to challenge traditional portraiture? The sketches disrupt conventional representations, and speak to the complexity of human identity. De Graag seems to invite us to delve deeper into the emotional and psychological states of her subjects, to consider their personal stories, and to reflect on the broader social and cultural contexts that shape our understanding of them. Her art captures the emotional and personal dimensions that resonate beyond the surface.