Mannenkoppen 1890 - 1946

Cornelis Vreedenburgh made this drawing of men's heads with pen and ink. These studies may seem simple, but they speak to a broader social context of early 20th-century Dutch society. The men's caps and stern profiles suggest a military or authority figure. Given that the artwork was made in the first half of the 20th century, it is likely a reflection on the tense political atmosphere of the interwar period. The Netherlands remained neutral during the First World War, but this didn't prevent the rise of militarism and nationalism in Dutch society. Vreedenburgh lived through both World Wars and died shortly after the second. To understand this work better, we can turn to historical archives and institutional records to understand how these men would have been seen at the time. Artworks like this offer insights into how power and identity were perceived and represented during times of conflict.