Studieblad met koppen 1875 - 1900

Jan de Waardt created this sketch, "Studieblad met koppen" which translates to "Study Sheet with Heads," using graphite. De Waardt was working in a period of significant social change, with increasing industrialization impacting class structures and labor relations. What we see here is a series of male portraits capturing different ages, professions, and social classes, each distinguished by their facial hair and headwear. The artist uses a naturalistic approach, but some of the faces appear caricatured. The men smoking pipes or cigars perhaps represent the working class or perhaps a more bourgeois lifestyle. De Waardt, through his focus on portraiture, seems to engage with the idea of how identity is constructed and perceived. The rough sketches convey a sense of immediacy and a fleeting glimpse into the lives of ordinary people. This evokes an emotional connection, as we are invited to reflect on the diversity of human experience. The artist prompts us to think about the markers of identity and the individual stories that shape our society.