Portret van een aan tafel zittende man en vrouw 1524 - 1525

Lorenzo Lotto sketched this portrait of a man and a woman, likely in the early 16th century, using pen and brown ink. The intimate portrayal invites us into the domestic sphere, revealing as much about the sitters as it does about the social norms of their time. We see a woman holding what appears to be a small child or perhaps an animal, seated next to a man in a wide-brimmed hat. Lotto’s work often challenged the established artistic conventions, and here, the subjects are rendered with a rare sense of immediacy. The use of ink allows for expressive lines that capture the texture of their clothing. What interests me most is how Lotto subtly questions the rigid roles assigned to men and women. Is he suggesting an alternative narrative, one where domesticity and affection take precedence over social status? This drawing captures a fleeting moment, reminding us that even within the confines of history, individuals forge their own identities.