Two studies of a woman breastfeeding her child

De Gheyn’s numerous drawings of men and women in their daily pursuits show the artist’s great interest in observing and depicting daily life. A total of 119 of these ‘figure studies’ can be found in van Regteren Altena’s catalogue of de Gheyn's drawings, forming a significant part of his drawn oeuvre (op. cit., nos. 532-650). These intimate drawings, often showing family scenes, show the artist's ability to raise even the simplest activities to a monumental level. The present drawing is a fine example of such a genre scene. The figures are drawn with vigorous, energetic strokes giving the drawing a great sense of vitality. The irregular shape of the sheet indicates that is was once part of a larger sheet with additional studies.

The intimate genre drawings by de Gheyn had a great influence on the next generation of draughtsmen in the Netherlands, and is especially evident in the drawings of Rembrandt (1606-1669) and his school (see J.R. Judson, in Jacques de Gheyn II als tekenaar 1565-1629, exhib. cat., Rotterdam, Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen and Washington DC, National Gallery of Art, 1985-86, pp. 22-3). Drawings like this one prompted the basis for the next generation of Dutch artists to develop the realistic art for which they are celebrated.