Staande man met een hoed, van opzij gezien 1865 - 1913

Editor: So, here we have "Standing Man with a Hat, Seen from the Side," a pencil drawing created sometime between 1865 and 1913 by Bramine Hubrecht, residing here at the Rijksmuseum. The loose sketch-like quality gives it this immediate, almost intimate feel. It's like peeking into the artist's private sketchbook. What jumps out at you? Curator: Oh, absolutely! It does feel like stumbling upon a private moment, doesn't it? To me, it whispers of fleeting impressions, of trying to capture something before it vanishes. There's a delightful honesty in its incompleteness. Imagine Hubrecht, perhaps in a bustling café, quickly sketching passersby, seizing the essence of their posture, the tilt of a hat. Do you get a sense of movement from the composition? Editor: I do! The multiple figures, one above the other, feel like different takes, like a stop-motion animation of a man caught in a moment. Is it common to find these raw, unpolished sketches in museum collections? Curator: It’s becoming increasingly common and valued, I think! These sketches offer a fascinating glimpse into the artistic process, revealing the artist's thought process, their hesitations and swift decisions. And with Hubrecht, a personal sketchbook piece such as this drawing encourages a contemporary, honest appreciation. We feel invited in ways more ‘finished’ pieces sometimes can't offer. Does seeing this side of Hubrecht influence your interpretation of her more formal work, do you think? Editor: Definitely. It makes me appreciate the skill and the editing involved in a polished portrait, while also valuing the raw energy and honesty here. It feels like a more immediate connection to the artist. Curator: Exactly! It bridges the gap between artist and viewer. We see the shared humanity, the inherent imperfection in creation. Ultimately, I think we recognize in that incomplete figure the echo of our own unfinished selves. It's rather beautiful, don't you think?