Kop van een toekan c. 1930 - 1940

Otto Verhagen made this sketch, “Kop van een toekan” or “Head of a Toucan” in pencil. But what does it mean to capture the head of a toucan? Historically, the representation of animals has been deeply interwoven with human identity and power. For centuries, depictions of animals have often served as symbols of status, allegories for human traits, or as trophies of colonial exploits. They can speak to human relationships with the natural world, often reflecting a desire to dominate or control it. Here, Verhagen seems to eschew traditional representations. The toucan, native to the Americas, carries its own history of cultural significance, often seen as a symbol of the exotic Other. But in this work, there is an unexpected tenderness. The simple lines and shading evoke a sense of respect and curiosity. It offers an intimate, non-exploitative view of a creature often reduced to a symbol. Ultimately, it invites us to reconsider how we perceive and portray the creatures we share our world with.