Meisje op ziekenbezoek bij een vriendin c. 1928 - 1941

Curator: This artwork is titled “Girl Visiting a Sick Friend,” a pen and ink sketch by Miep de Feijter, probably created sometime between 1928 and 1941. The style is beautifully simple. Editor: My immediate impression is quiet tenderness. There’s an almost cinematic feel to the way the figures are framed within the implied architecture of the bed, creating an intimate tableau. The drawing is sketchy but detailed enough to evoke a sense of lived-in space and shared emotion. Curator: I agree. The pen-and-ink medium gives it a quality that emphasizes line and form, making the scene both accessible and deeply personal. De Feijter's work often shows intimate settings. You get a sense of every-day lives during the interwar period. Editor: Exactly. Considering the period, this piece potentially reflects social attitudes toward healthcare, especially for women and children. Sickness often had devastating impacts and to witness the emotional bond between children feels particularly profound within the context of a potential epidemic or outbreak. It may reflect cultural ideals around caretaking and friendship during a time of heightened social precarity. Curator: Perhaps it also talks about what is not there; the implied story. The sick girl lying in bed, slightly distant in expression. The visitor is attentively present with their hands clasped. You think about how such visits helped break through isolation; in fact, one still needs a support system. Editor: That interplay of presence and absence makes it emotionally very powerful. What isn’t explicitly shown – the conversation between them, the nature of the illness, and so on – fuels the viewer's imagination. There is a silent story with universal themes related to care. Curator: The drawing achieves such power with so few marks and captures a quiet moment of kindness. It reminds me of what's beautiful about those simple human connections. Editor: Absolutely, it provides insight into the period, suggesting complex themes of caring and sickness which still resonate. A sketch may be minimal, but the artist suggests big emotions in a big way.