Zittend meisje, naar links 1872 - 1931

Willem de Zwart rendered this drawing with chalk, depicting a seated girl facing left. During de Zwart's time, from the late 19th to the early 20th century, Dutch art was undergoing a shift, moving from romanticism towards more socially conscious representations of everyday life. Here, the girl is adorned in modest attire and a head covering that obscures her face. The subtle strokes give a sense of quiet dignity, yet the averted gaze can evoke a sense of social distance and the complexities of the female experience in that era. This drawing reflects the traditional roles assigned to women and girls, yet it also prompts us to reflect on the untold stories of those whose lives were often confined by societal expectations. De Zwart invites us to consider the individual within the context of a rapidly changing world.