Staande vrouw met kruik 1871 - 1906

Curator: Let’s turn our attention to "Standing Woman with Pitcher," a pencil drawing attributed to Pieter de Josselin de Jong, likely created between 1871 and 1906, part of the Rijksmuseum collection. Editor: The sketch has a raw and lovely feel—almost intimate. You can almost hear the scratch of the pencil on paper; the mood makes you reflect on what everyday life was. It feels less like observation and more like direct contact. Curator: That's insightful. Realism gained popularity during this era, focusing on unvarnished depictions of everyday life. Artists sought to represent ordinary subjects honestly and authentically. The presence of the pitcher perhaps underlines the humble aspects of labor. Editor: It gives me this kind of sad reflection. There's such softness to her downcast eyes and loose posture, which captures something that makes you question your presence, as if in some way, there is such depth to someone when alone, but she doesn’t seem that way if I saw her walking along a street, right? The sketch is a door to an otherwise unseen reality of quiet thought. Curator: Agreed. Consider how art institutions like the Rijksmuseum preserve and present works like these. The decision to display a preparatory sketch elevates its status and offers viewers a glimpse into the artistic process—reflecting on both historical and art values that frame what art is for us to appreciate today. Editor: In many ways, what you describe changes art. Seeing a preliminary work and its status now really highlights a kind of democratizing gaze. It acknowledges the value in process and the quiet moments of creating. You look at her looking into that pitcher and that becomes a mirror. Curator: Indeed. It broadens the art historical dialogue to include pieces that previously would’ve remained unseen. Editor: I think, maybe, she’s a reflection of anyone that exists, when unobserved. That sounds silly I guess. Well, thanks for chatting. That opened my eyes, so to speak. Curator: My pleasure; it is crucial to look at the role museums have in shaping these views on everyday scenes. A necessary perspective to add.