Vrouw van Richard Roland Holst in bed Possibly 1903 - 1931

Richard Nicolaüs Roland Holst made this pencil drawing of his wife in bed, and it's a tender glimpse into their private life. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, depicting women in domestic settings was common, but this sketch feels different because of its intimacy. The woman’s face is partially hidden, creating a sense of privacy. Roland Holst was deeply involved in socialist ideas and the labor movement, and it is interesting to see such a personal work from an artist so engaged with public life. In a way, this drawing emphasizes the importance of the domestic sphere and the emotional labor often unseen but essential to our lives. It makes you wonder about the quiet moments that sustain us, the personal relationships that give meaning to our public actions. What does it mean to reveal, or conceal, the women who are closest to us?