Portret van mevrouw M.J. van Rennès-de Jongh 1874 - 1925

This is Jan Veth's pencil drawing, "Portret van mevrouw M.J. van Rennès-de Jongh," now held at the Rijksmuseum. Veth, who lived from 1864 to 1925, captured the likeness of Mrs. van Rennès-de Jongh, embedding within it the quiet dignity of women in the late 19th and early 20th century. Notice how her gaze is cast downward, perhaps indicative of the domestic roles and expectations placed upon women of her time. The subtle lines and delicate shading speak to the interiority of his subject, her hands busy with some unseen task. Is it possible to view this image as not simply a depiction of an individual, but as a broader statement on the position of women in society, caught between visibility and a world of domesticity? It quietly asks us to consider the untold stories of women whose contributions, though less visible, were essential.