Drie vrouwen met vaten en ander materiaal 1726 - 1803

Editor: This drawing, "Drie vrouwen met vaten en ander materiaal" or "Three Women with Barrels and Other Material," made with pencil on paper between 1726 and 1803 by Jean-Baptiste Lallemand, has such a quiet, intimate feel. I’m curious about the women depicted; how do you interpret this work? Curator: I see this piece as engaging with the rise of Neoclassicism. Though Lallemand is depicting a genre scene, and thus ‘everyday’ life, we must remember that the labor performed here has historical weight, situated in very gendered and classed dimensions. These women and their labor are romanticized within a tradition that often sidelined them from official narratives. What do you think the artist’s intentions may have been in depicting this subject matter and in this style? Editor: I hadn’t considered that! It’s interesting how this everyday scene still might uphold societal expectations, even while appearing to celebrate their work. Perhaps the artist was aiming to aestheticize labor? Curator: Precisely. It begs us to ask, who benefits from this romanticized depiction? How does it contribute to the visibility – or invisibility – of the lived experiences of working women in the 18th century? This invites dialogue about the power dynamics inherent in how we represent different groups. Editor: So, it’s about looking beyond the surface-level charm of the image? Curator: Exactly. The drawing highlights the complex intersections of gender, class, and representation in art history. It serves as a lens through which we can examine societal norms and challenge romanticized narratives that conceal the lived realities of many. Editor: That makes me rethink everything. I thought it was a simple depiction of daily life! Now I realize how much more there is. Curator: Indeed. Questioning what is in front of us, how it got there, and what impact it had and still has allows us to expand our perspective beyond face value. Editor: This has really changed my perspective on how I view art!