Hoofd van een vrouw met gesloten ogen 1915 - 1940

This is Tinus van Doorn's pencil drawing, "Head of a Woman with Closed Eyes," now housed in the Rijksmuseum. Van Doorn, whose life was tragically cut short during the bombing of Rotterdam in 1940, captured this intimate portrait in delicate strokes. The woman's closed eyes invite contemplation. What does she dream? What does she remember? The subtle shading and soft lines give her face a gentle, almost ethereal quality. Van Doorn created this drawing during a period of immense social upheaval in Europe. Consider the historical context: the rise of fascism, economic depression, and looming war. In that moment, an image of peaceful introspection gains considerable power. Does this drawing reinforce or challenge traditional representations of women? How might her closed eyes symbolize vulnerability or perhaps a quiet strength? Her serene expression offers a moment of respite, a whisper of hope amidst the turmoil.