A Woman Standing at an Open Sash Window, a Small Boy Beside Her

Art Historical Context

In the intimate drawing *A Woman Standing at an Sash Window, a Small Boy Beside Her* (ca. early 19th century), Dutch artist Anthonie Andri captures a tender moment of everyday life. Created during his active years (1761–3), the work depicts a woman poised at a sash window—its sliding panels a hallmark of Northern European architecture—gazing outward while a small boy stands attentively by her side. This quiet domestic scene evokes the warmth of family bonds, a common theme in 18th- and early 19th-century genre art. Executed in brush and gray ink with a framing line in pen and black ink, the modestly sized sheet (6 11/16 x 5 1/16 in.) showcases Andriessen's skill in monochrome washes. The fluid brushwork builds subtle tones and depth, lending a sense of light filtering through the open window and illuminating the figures. Such techniques were prized in preparatory sketches or standalone studies, allowing artists to explore composition and emotion with economical means. Acquired by The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2009 through the generous gift of Alain and Marie-Christine van den Broek d'Obrenan, this drawing highlights the enduring appeal of Andriessen's observational precision. It invites visitors to ponder the universal stories hidden in ordinary moments, bridging 19th-century domesticity with our own.