Quadrant: Four themes of Petrus van der Velden, 20 October 2006 – 25 March 2007

Although highly finished, there is an informal feel to both these portraits, observed by Van der Velden as they sit relaxing. Dutch Girl Knitting is thought to date from Van der Velden’s Marken period, when he visited the island of Marken in the Zuyder Zee. The young girl has been sensitively drawn with careful attention to detail. Using pencil, Van der Velden has carefully studied the sitter as she knits, and accurately portrayed her features. She wears the head scarf commonly worn by women of the Marken region of the period, and which can also be seen in the Dutch funeral series.