Portret van Lys Bus 1917

Curator: Well, here we have Julie de Graag's "Portret van Lys Bus," created in 1917. It's an engraving, a print of a portrait. Intense, isn’t it? Editor: It really is. It feels like a concentrated dose of old-world Dutch grumpiness, but in a good way! There's a starkness, a kind of raw honesty in those deeply etched lines that draws me in. I am getting some Edward Gorey vibes, somehow… Curator: The directness definitely has impact. What’s fascinating is how this work emerged during a time of great social upheaval and artistic experimentation. De Graag positions herself within a modernist trajectory while referencing older printmaking techniques. How do you feel about that relationship between past and future in this image? Editor: For me, that tension is the juiciest part! She’s dragging the tradition kicking and screaming into the 20th century. Like she's saying, "Yes, I can do quaint, but I’ll also give it to you with this unsettling modern glare." Those piercing eyes do not conform to sentimentality. It's less about recording appearance and more about conjuring presence. Curator: Exactly! Her caricature could almost be seen as a commentary on the societal roles imposed on women, a subtle revolt against conventional portrayals. Lys Bus, whoever she was, stares back defiantly. This reflects an era where artists started to challenge how subjects were depicted. The print is less concerned with prettifying. Editor: It also reflects de Graag’s perspective as a female artist pushing those boundaries. How much more biting is that stare? I'm intrigued by her choice to work with an almost primitive style here. Curator: That stark style certainly highlights her intentions. The work's display context is interesting, too. This print, residing in the Rijksmuseum, speaks to changing curatorial perceptions of whose stories are worth preserving and how artistic merit gets constructed. It begs us to question historical canons, doesn't it? Editor: Absolutely, like why is this work of Lys Bus important. Museums decide who we remember, and sometimes they make brilliantly odd choices like this that throws a wrench in your assumptions about what "important" art is, what powerful portraits can express with utter directness. It stays with you, that unwavering gaze. Curator: Precisely! A powerful and challenging work. I always find new historical threads to follow here. Editor: For me, the threads lead back to those intense eyes. Thanks for guiding the way through them!