Pannenkoekenbakster 1768

Curator: Right now we're looking at Johannes Kornlein’s “Pannenkoekenbakster” created around 1768. It's currently housed here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: There’s such immediacy to this drawing. The quick, confident lines really bring the figure of the pancake maker to life. She seems totally absorbed in her task, doesn't she? Curator: Absolutely. The piece offers a glimpse into 18th-century Dutch daily life. Genre scenes like this were becoming quite popular, reflecting a growing interest in portraying ordinary people. You can sense that societal shift here, away from grand historical narratives towards more intimate and relatable subject matter. Editor: The artist's hand is beautifully evident. The hatching and cross-hatching build up the form so well. You really get a feel for the textures – the soft folds of her cap and the smoothness of the pan. Note the delicate suggestion of the background with the suggestion of objects arranged in the background like some Baroque interior. The subtle tonality in his application of pencil is masterly. Curator: It's interesting to consider how Kornlein positions this domestic activity, traditionally within the woman’s domain. Art provided one means to reflect cultural values about social expectations. We can look at similar genre paintings of the era and analyze how labor and leisure were depicted. It tells a lot about contemporary social roles. Editor: Looking closer, there’s such a powerful visual connection from her eye to the pancake in the pan; it shows a beautiful understanding of composition. That diagonal axis almost anchors the entire piece. You could deconstruct all kinds of meaning from it. Curator: Exactly, though interpretations can evolve. Originally this piece might have been read purely as an endearing portrait. But through different contextual lenses, such images offer insight into domestic labor and gendered spheres within 18th-century society. Editor: A simple pencil sketch, and yet, such nuance. You know, I walk away noticing a particular softness to the light. Curator: Yes, this drawing offers us so many layers— aesthetic and social ones! It speaks of its time but continues to offer us different perspectives now.