Drie portretten, mogelijk van Samojeden c. 1880 - 1888

"Drie portretten, mogelijk van Samojeden" (Three Portraits, Possibly of Samoyeds), a graphite sketch by Dutch artist Louis Apol, is a study of three heads likely depicting members of the Samoyedic people. The quick, gestural lines and unfinished quality are characteristic of Apol's style, emphasizing the fleeting moments of observation and artistic process. The work, housed at the Rijksmuseum, provides insight into Apol's interest in ethnography and the human form, a recurring theme in his diverse artistic production.