Zittende oude vrouw met klompen aan en een kan op schoot 1788 - 1846

This is a drawing by Jan Hendrik Verheijen depicting a seated old woman with clogs and a jug in her lap. The immediate impression is one of subdued color and gentle lines, giving the work a quiet, contemplative atmosphere. The composition is structured around the woman’s figure, which occupies most of the space. Note how Verheijen uses cross-hatching to define form and texture. The woman’s garments are rendered with soft, flowing lines that contrast with the more angular depiction of her face and hands. The jug she holds becomes a focal point, a symbol of her domestic role and perhaps also of the simple, everyday life she leads. Verheijen's choice of subject and his delicate treatment of form are signs that evoke a sense of empathy and respect for the elderly woman. The drawing subtly challenges the established norms of idealizing youth and beauty, inviting us to reconsider our values and perceptions.