Portret van een vrouw met muts, gelijkend op Friese kap 1894 - 1908

This is a portrait of a woman with a bonnet, made by J.W. Besijn. Looking at this piece, I wonder about the artist's hand – the decisions made in the moment. The woman's expression seems to suggest a certain way of being in the world. It's always a collaboration, the artist and the subject, both bringing their experiences to the work. You know, it reminds me of those times in the studio, wrestling with the material, trying to get it just right, or maybe letting go and seeing what happens. It’s like you're in a conversation with the painting, a push and pull of intention and accident. And in the end, it's not just about what you put in, but what you allow to emerge. It’s this process of working that keeps me going. Like there's an ongoing exchange of ideas happening, a kind of dialogue. It's not about fixed meanings, but about opening up possibilities, embracing ambiguity, and finding new ways of seeing.