Studie 1865 - 1913

This pencil drawing is titled ‘Studie’ and was made by the Dutch artist Bramine Hubrecht. Given that she was active in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, we might ask how this work sits within the artistic and institutional contexts of that time. Hubrecht came from an affluent background, and this gave her the opportunity to study at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague. The sketch is preparatory, and shows the artist working out the composition of a more finished work. The style of the sketch could be described as Academic Realism. This was the dominant style taught in European art academies at the time, and while many artists sought to challenge these academic norms, others such as Hubrecht, remained committed to them. As historians, we might consider the role of the academy in shaping her work, or whether her privileged social background might have influenced her artistic choices.