Standbeeld van een vrouw 1636 - 1647

Theodor Matham created this drawing, "Statue of a Woman," in the 17th century. The composition, focused on a central figure, immediately draws the eye. The light ink and delicate linework give a sense of depth and volume to the otherwise static form of a sculpture. The subject, a classical statue, is depicted with a concentration on drapery. Here, Matham seems to explore a dichotomy between revealing and concealing. The folds both highlight and obscure the form, creating a tension that destabilizes traditional perceptions of classical beauty. This treatment speaks to a broader philosophical concern: the contrast between the ideal and the real. Matham uses the texture and the shadows to question the statue's seemingly perfect representation of the human form. The missing arm, too, disrupts our understanding of completeness and challenges fixed ideas.