Vrouw die op een stoel naast een wieg zit 1887 - 1920

Albert Roelofs made this print of a woman by a cradle sometime between the late 19th and early 20th century. It's a soft, quiet scene rendered in delicate lines. I imagine Roelofs, hunched over a plate, carefully etching each line, trying to capture the stillness of the room, the quiet vigil of motherhood. What was he thinking? Was he a father himself? I'm drawn to the areas where the lines are denser, creating shadows and depth. The back of the chair almost disappearing into the gloom. There's something so tender and intimate about this image. It makes me think of other artists who've explored domestic scenes - Mary Cassatt comes to mind, with her paintings of mothers and children. There is an ongoing conversation and exchange of ideas across time. Artists are always building on what's come before, finding new ways to express universal human experiences. This print invites us to contemplate the quiet moments of life and the deep connections that bind us.