Portret van een oudere man 1874 - 1925

Editor: This is "Portret van een oudere man," a pencil drawing by Jan Veth, likely created between 1874 and 1925. It has a very direct gaze and striking sense of presence. What’s fascinating to me is how the artist combines seemingly finished portraiture with looser, almost sketch-like sections. How do you read this interplay of styles, and what does it say to you about its social context? Curator: It strikes me that Veth uses a Realist style while fragmenting the piece itself. It looks unfinished and almost as if the drawing and newsprint we can see in the work create an illusion and disruption in the act of traditional representation. Think about the social and political moment in which this was created; what happens if we read the newsprint as a commentary on an elite male subject and the changing role of social commentary, representation, and the male figure at the time? How can we question how Veth presents a singular view, in relation to shifting perspectives and a disruption of form? Editor: That’s a compelling read! So, the layering of the pencil drawing, the almost unfinished quality, the textual fragment… These all work together to suggest instability, a challenge to singular narratives or even authority? Curator: Precisely. Perhaps Veth's artistic choices serve to undermine the assumed stability of portraiture during an era of rapid social change. Who is rendered visible? Who is omitted from visual narratives and how is it presented? I find it so fascinating that Veth is commenting on how masculinity is portrayed in relation to the world. Editor: It’s given me a lot to think about when it comes to how seemingly straightforward portraits can be a space for really powerful commentary. Curator: Absolutely, it all hinges on how we contextualize and examine power within the image.