Twee koppen van een jonge vrouw 1865 - 1913

This is 'Two Heads of a Young Woman' by Bramine Hubrecht, a Dutch artist born in 1855. Hubrecht lived at a time when women were gaining more access to education and artistic training, yet still faced societal expectations that often limited their professional opportunities. In this sketch, we see two studies of a young woman's head, drawn with delicate lines in what appears to be red chalk. What strikes me is the intimate perspective. The subject’s closed eyes and the angle suggest a moment of repose, inviting contemplation on her inner life. Hubrecht captures a vulnerability that transcends the conventional portraiture of her time. The woman’s gaze is not directed outward towards an audience but seems turned inward, towards her own thoughts or dreams. Hubrecht, as a woman artist, brings a particular sensitivity to the portrayal of her female subject, offering a glimpse into a quiet, personal moment. She defies the stereotype of the passive female muse by imbuing her subject with a sense of interiority and emotional depth.