Staande man met armen over elkaar 1777 - 1779

Curator: Right, let's dive into this intriguing piece. It's a drawing called "Standing Man with Arms Crossed," dating from 1777 to 1779, credited to Pieter de Mare. Ink on paper, and currently held here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Wow, immediately, I get a sense of a wary, slightly suspicious character. The line work is so delicate, yet it conveys such a guarded posture. Arms crossed, that hat pulled low... he's not giving anything away, is he? Curator: Exactly. Let’s consider the material context: late 18th-century Holland. Ink and paper were relatively accessible, so the barrier to creating such a work wouldn’t have been prohibitive. The style reflects elements of both realism and nascent Romanticism, indicating a changing social landscape. Editor: It makes me think about the hidden narratives. The suggestion of a sword at his side… he’s clearly a working-class man. This small hint allows us to consider this is as a document of daily life in Holland at this time. Curator: Indeed. The use of line suggests the artist sought clarity, even classification of types of peoples living in that era. We could talk about how the drawing is rendered, using primarily lines rather than broader strokes. It tells us a lot about artistic training. Editor: Yes! It highlights his commitment to the working person through deliberate acts of drawing labor—not unlike the work undertaken by the person portrayed here. And what's also quite remarkable to me, is that so few lines manages to suggest so much bulk, such a lived-in physique! There’s character etched into every stroke. Curator: I concur, it invites consideration. The work stands testament to material and method intertwining seamlessly, prompting considerations about art, labor, and social representation within that era. Editor: For me, this little drawing isn’t just a study; it’s a ghost. A echo of a person.