Man met een pet zittend op een stoel 1890 - 1946

Curator: Here we have “Man met een pet zittend op een stoel,” or “Man with a Cap Sitting on a Chair," a pencil drawing by Cornelis Vreedenburgh. Although the dates of its creation are unclear, it's known to be from somewhere between 1890 and 1946. Editor: It's so raw, isn't it? Makes you wonder what's on his mind. Looks like a quiet, contemplative moment, almost like he's hiding in plain sight. It has the simplicity and depth of those perfect quiet minutes of introspection that maybe we’re so afraid to interrupt, so we just glance and then continue onward with our own lives. Curator: That introspection is quite evocative of artistic representations of the working class from that time, where realism attempted to capture the inner life of ordinary people, positioning them centrally. In this sense, the sketch provides access to humanity across economic strata. Editor: You know, that "ordinariness" is what grabs me. It feels deeply human and relatable, not idealized, just… real. A quiet observation on existence, perhaps? I mean, if I squint and look at his slumped shoulder, I want to offer a supporting hand. It hits on our ability to sympathize as humans. Curator: Right, and considering its presence here at the Rijksmuseum, it highlights how institutions democratize access to different interpretations of humanity. It acknowledges these experiences have inherent historical and aesthetic merit. The pencil medium itself also emphasizes a sense of immediacy and intimacy. Editor: Exactly! That raw immediacy is powerful. Maybe he’s contemplating some grand plan, or just feeling tired, as all of us eventually do. Anyway, you put all that history-speak into the background, and I see something timeless – a portrait of being human, captured with remarkable economy. Curator: A wonderful counterpoint. I’ve come to realize, perhaps the grand historical narratives reside within those intensely private moments too, shaping them in unseen ways. Editor: Absolutely. It's funny how a simple pencil sketch can open up these doors, isn't it? Leaves you wondering about all the untold stories hiding behind closed eyes, or even just beneath a worn-out cap.