Vrouw met albinisme met hand voor de ogen c. 1675 - 1725

Curator: I am pleased to contribute to this project! Editor: We're looking at "Vrouw met albinisme met hand voor de ogen," an anonymous watercolor portrait from around 1675 to 1725. I find her gaze compelling and was wondering, what strikes you when you observe this work? Curator: Considering this piece through a materialist lens, I’m drawn to the way watercolor is used to depict the woman's clothing and how the artist creates a certain texture with very simple means. What was the production of this watercolor like? Was this created for a noble's collection or for scientific documentation? Editor: Interesting question. It prompts one to look closer! It definitely seems very studied and exact, which to me says it’s more documentation, but how do we explore the economic or cultural conditions surrounding its creation, especially with it being anonymous? Curator: Well, we could research the pigments used. Where did they come from? Who traded them? What social class would have had access to these materials? These questions can give us insight into the cultural context of its creation. The woman's garments and jewelry also give insight to her role. Are the dyes rare or mass produced? This gives an understanding about who had access to being portrayed, and what that could have meant at that point in time. Editor: It's amazing to think about how something seemingly simple, like watercolor, can open up so many avenues of investigation. I'll definitely think differently about portraits now. Curator: Exactly! By looking at the materials and production, we can unlock narratives about labor, trade, and social status that are often hidden in art history. What I have learnt, or at least confirmed, is that art's story relies as much on materials as it does on talent and concept.