Vrouw met opgestoken haar c. 1894

Julie de Graag sketched “Vrouw met opgestoken haar” in 1900 using graphite. De Graag lived in an era where women were stepping into artistic roles, yet often faced constraints in their training and recognition. This sketch offers an intimate look at a woman, perhaps caught in a moment of introspection. The delicate lines and soft shading convey a sense of quiet dignity. De Graag, positioning herself as a female gaze, challenges the traditional, often objectified portrayals of women by male artists. Instead, she presents us with a subject who appears both composed and deeply thoughtful. There is a certain vulnerability in the downward gaze, an exposure of the neck, typically an eroticized part of the female body. This, however, is portrayed without overt sexuality. Instead, the woman is seen in a moment of quiet contemplation, inviting us to reflect on the inner lives of women and their often overlooked perspectives.