Portret van Cornelis Hofstede de Groot 1874 - 1925

Jan Veth made this pencil drawing of Cornelis Hofstede de Groot in 1920. It reflects the social networks and institutional structures that shaped the art world of the Netherlands at the time. Veth, himself a respected artist, was deeply embedded in the cultural elite. Hofstede de Groot, whom he portrays, was an art historian renowned for his catalog raisonné of Rembrandt. This image, with its intimate and informal style, speaks to the close relationships within this circle of connoisseurs and scholars. The sketch emphasizes a shared intellectual pursuit, a world where expertise and personal connections defined artistic value and historical understanding. To fully appreciate this drawing, we need to consider the rise of art history as a discipline, the role of collectors and experts in shaping taste, and the social rituals of artistic exchange in the early 20th century. These are the subjects that art historians investigate, helping us see artworks not as isolated creations, but as products of their time.