Vrouw en meisje in Volendamse klederdracht 1875

George Clausen made this sketch of women in Volendam costume with graphite on paper. The artist’s hand is really evident here in the visible lines and smudges left by the graphite as it moves across the page. Clausen's light and quick handling of the material suggests the work was created en plein air. The study of regional costume was a popular theme in nineteenth-century European art, often bound up with complex issues of national identity and nostalgia for pre-industrial rural life. The sketch gives us some insight into the garment's construction and the skilled labor involved in crafting such intricate pieces. The cultural significance of these clothes, handmade with care and passed down through generations, would have been well understood by Clausen's audience. By focusing on materials, making, and context, we can appreciate the rich cultural meaning embedded within this sketch.