Vissersvrouw met twee kinderen before 1903

This is Vissersvrouw met twee kinderen, made with graphite by Philip Sadée. It's all about line here, the kind of sustained looking and mark-making that becomes a form of meditation. The drawing is really about Sadée's hand moving across the paper. The lines create a sense of weight, especially in the way the blanket hangs around the mother. You can see the cross-hatching used to build up tone, adding depth and volume to the figures. Check out the delicate lines that define the children's faces, it's so tender. It is the tonal variation that gives the image its drama. The light seems to be coming from above, emphasizing the curve of the mother's head and shoulders and the way the little girl is leaning on her mother. There’s something about the quiet confidence in these lines that reminds me of Paula Modersohn-Becker. Both artists manage to capture the dignity and resilience of everyday life with such simplicity and grace.