Ophaalbrug 1885

Jan Veth made this drawing of a lifting bridge, called ‘Ophaalbrug’ in Dutch, with chalk on paper. Although undated, the '85' in the bottom right corner suggests it was made in 1885. Veth was a man of contradictions, interested in traditional values while associating with progressive artistic movements, and he was active at a time when the role of art was being hotly debated in the Netherlands. Should art be for art’s sake, or should it serve a social function? This drawing offers a glimpse into that debate. Veth was a co-founder of the Dutch etching club, which aimed to elevate graphic art, and he may have created this drawing as a study for an etching. Although the subject matter – a lifting bridge – is traditionally Dutch, the drawing is more focused on the composition, light and shade, and technical skill than on conveying any message. To understand the artist’s intentions better, we can examine his wider body of work, as well as the artistic movements and debates of the time.