Studie van een zittende oude vrouw met een man 1763 - 1826

This is Abraham van Strij’s drawing “Study of a Seated Old Woman with a Man." Van Strij lived in a time of significant social change with growing disparities of wealth in the Netherlands. The artist's intimate portrayal of an elderly woman offers a window into the lives of the working class. Seated and hunched over her work, the woman’s traditional clothing speaks to her age and status. Her weary gaze and wrinkled hands tell a story of a life marked by labor, while her posture suggests the burdens she carries, both physically and emotionally. Van Strij seems to capture a nuanced perspective, one that avoids both romanticizing and idealizing her reality. The presence of a man, though only implied in the title, introduces further questions about gender roles and relationships within this domestic scene. The drawing encourages us to consider the experiences of those often overlooked in art history, reminding us to recognize the value and dignity in every life.