Zelfportret van Willem Bastiaan Tholen 1870 - 1931

Willem Bastiaan Tholen created this self-portrait drawing using graphite, sometime near the turn of the 20th century. Tholen was an important figure in the Hague School, a group of Dutch artists who emphasized realism and naturalism, often in contrast to the prevailing academic style. This self-portrait provides a glimpse into the artist's identity and social standing. The presence of the pipe, for example, could be read as a signifier of middle-class intellectualism, a subtle marker that separates him from the working classes. The work is also indicative of the institutional support for portraiture and self-portraiture at the time, revealing the importance placed on the individual artist within the art world. To fully understand Tholen's work, we can consult exhibition catalogs, period reviews, and archival material related to the Hague School. These resources can shed light on how artists like Tholen negotiated their position within the changing social and cultural landscape of the Netherlands, and also the importance of the Rijksmuseum as a key space for artists to display their works.