Vrouw met een kruik en een man met een geweer 1874 - 1875

Willem Cornelis Rip rendered this sketch of a woman with a jug and a man with a rifle using graphite on paper. The immediate impression is of a study, a quick record of figures rather than a finished composition. Rip's choice of graphite allows for a broad range of tones with minimal means, as can be seen in the woman's dress or the contour of the rifle. The softness of the medium also lends itself to the depiction of light and shadow, adding depth and volume with a light touch. In terms of social significance, the sketch offers a glimpse into the lives of ordinary people, perhaps peasants or rural workers. It is a scene far removed from urban luxury, or the industrial revolution then in full swing. Rip’s drawing is unassuming in scale and subject, but in its delicate and considered execution, it reminds us that artistry can be found in the everyday. It challenges the traditional hierarchy between ‘high’ art and the more humble practice of sketching.