Schets van een staande man, het hoofd apart getekend 1864 - 1936

Curator: This drawing, held at the Rijksmuseum, is titled "Sketch of a Standing Man, Head Drawn Separately." Created sometime between 1864 and 1936 by Jan van Essen, it's a study in pencil offering a glimpse into the artist’s process. Editor: My first impression is… unassuming. A muted atmosphere emerges from these pencil strokes. It reminds me of preliminary sketches we see pinned in tailor workshops: detached studies before assembly. The subject somehow exists without actually "being." Curator: Indeed. Essen, whose name hints at connections to older Dutch artistic traditions, operates in this piece outside the high art definitions, but close to everyday needs, fashion and perhaps local theatrical groups. Sketches such as this reveal artistic underpinnings in society’s economic strata. What’s interesting is the lack of a fully integrated body— a choice perhaps signifying class dynamics or the period. Editor: I find myself wondering about the hat – the separate rendering draws the eye, as if it carries significance. Hats throughout history and across cultures frequently embody identity: profession, social status, or simply individuality. Its presence alone seems crucial to this figure's story even while we are not provided with his full, cohesive self. Curator: The portrayal does lend itself to multifaceted analyses; the realism mixed with the abstraction makes it unique and suitable for interpretations spanning across society. The separated head draws focus and turns the observer towards themes connected with self-fashioning; we find an artist at work in times when modern mass production becomes prominent. How can an artist redefine old trades under emerging global challenges? The picture becomes an ode to individualism within its changing forms of cultural symbolism. Editor: You have captured something very poignant there. Viewing it with this in mind enriches its impact. Curator: Absolutely! I appreciate how your iconographic analysis brought nuances related to symbolism and class into the drawing. Thank you for shining a light on this artwork. Editor: The pleasure was all mine, considering that these kinds of studies lead towards so many venues for personal introspection; it feels very human at its core.