Studieblad met twee staande mannen en een zittende man, wiens hoofd driemaal herhaald is 1706 - 1750

This red chalk drawing of three men with studies of a head was created by Cornelis Troost, an 18th-century painter celebrated for his theatrical scenes. In the Dutch Republic, the performance of identity was often as important as identity itself. Here, the figures' elaborate costumes and exaggerated expressions reflect the social theater of the time. Troost, deeply embedded in Amsterdam's cultural life, captures the nuances of class and social interaction. The artist creates an emotional tableau, leaving us to wonder about the relationships between the figures and the narrative they enact. Are they performers, politicians, or merchants? This piece, with its ambiguous narrative, invites us to consider how identity is both performed and perceived, echoing the complexities of social life in the Dutch Republic.