Studie van verschillende monden 1675 - 1711

This work, "Studie van verschillende monden," or "Study of different mouths," is an undated drawing by an anonymous artist, now held at the Rijksmuseum. The drawing presents a collection of mouths, each slightly varied, arranged across the page in a seemingly informal yet structured manner. The visual impact is one of methodical observation, rendered with a delicate balance of line and shadow. The artist’s approach foregrounds the mouth as a site of expression. Through subtle modulations in line and shading, each mouth achieves a distinct character, hinting at a range of emotions. This study can be viewed through the lens of structuralism, where the variations in each mouth might be seen as signifiers within a broader system of facial expression. The composition invites us to decode the underlying structure of human emotion and communication. Ultimately, this drawing underscores the complexity of non-verbal communication and the challenges inherent in representing human emotion. It prompts us to question how much meaning can be conveyed through a single feature.