Man met wandelstok en drinkende vrouw c. 1696 - 1740

Curator: Here we have a drawing by Matthijs Pool, "Man with Walking Stick and Woman Drinking," dating from about 1696 to 1740. Editor: Well, hello there, characters from another time! I see a minimalist stage setting, these two figures standing alone in what feels like a captured moment... almost voyeuristic. Curator: Indeed. It's currently held in the Rijksmuseum collection and gives us a peek into everyday life through Pool's eyes. Consider the way the artist used pen and ink; simple yet expressive lines capture the essence of each individual. How might gender roles of the period influence how we perceive this image? Editor: I think the pen work adds to that fleeting, almost clandestine impression, like a quick sketch from a traveler's notebook. The woman, though minimally drawn, has such an interesting pose, imbibing in solitude…a quiet act of defiance perhaps? Makes me wonder what she’s drinking. Curator: The image invites reflections on societal expectations of both genders in the 17th and 18th centuries. Men often were depicted in active public roles while women's lives centered on domestic or private spaces. Does this portrayal reinforce or subvert such expectations? How much did class affect their roles? Editor: Ooh, interesting. I hadn’t really considered that before. I was so caught up in their individual moments, their solitariness that I almost missed the broader implications...The walking stick—does that symbolize something about the man’s status or journey? His gaze seems fixed and slightly world-weary... Curator: Absolutely! This work provides valuable insight into Dutch social dynamics, gender representation, and class structures of that time. These were transformational centuries when Enlightenment ideals challenged old structures... Editor: It’s fascinating how much information you can pack into simple pen strokes and empty space. I came in here thinking it was a couple of interesting characters doing their own thing, and I leave contemplating history itself! I love when that happens! Curator: Precisely! The image might look unassuming, but under closer consideration, these sketches on paper opens windows onto complex histories.