Two Fat Peasant Women 1815 - 1892

Editor: We’re looking at "Two Fat Peasant Women," an ink and wash drawing by Constantin Guys, from the 19th century. The figures have such weight and presence... almost looming despite the relatively small scale of the work. What do you make of it? Curator: Oh, I find them wonderfully solid! Not fat, darling, substantial. See how Guys uses the ink washes – puddling the grey tones to give volume and shape. It’s almost as if he’s sculpting them with light and shadow. There's an unapologetic quality to them. I imagine them gossiping with gusto. Do you get that feeling, too? Editor: Absolutely. They’ve got an attitude, a sense of self-possession. But it’s interesting you call it sculpting… I was struck by the sketchiness, like a fleeting impression rather than a fully formed portrait. Curator: Yes, it's both, isn’t it? Like catching a butterfly but preserving its very essence! Guys wasn’t about photographic realism; he sought to capture the spirit of his time. These women, in their everyday attire, represent a particular social reality, unvarnished and true. Perhaps even romanticized? Editor: That's interesting! It makes me consider who his intended audience was. It definitely challenges the traditional notions of beauty of the time, but you are right. It's definitely got a unique spark that he captured with only ink on the canvas! Curator: Precisely! A fleeting spark captured for eternity. Which, when you think about it, is the magic of art, wouldn't you agree? Editor: I definitely would. Thanks for walking me through this one, I'll see it with new eyes from now on.