Schetsen van Frank van der Goes 1887

Jan Veth made these Sketches of Frank van der Goes, using graphite on paper. Veth was a man of the fin-de-siècle, an era when a shift in thinking affected all fields. These sketches offer a glimpse into the intellectual circles of the late 19th century in the Netherlands, capturing the likeness of Frank van der Goes, a prominent socialist writer. The loose, informal strokes suggest intimacy, a candid portrayal of a man deeply involved in shaping the political discourse of his time. Veth himself moved in socialist circles, advocating for social justice through his art and writings. These sketches are not just portraits; they are documents of a friendship forged in the heat of ideological debate, each line a testament to the power of art to capture not only the physical likeness but also the spirit of a revolutionary moment. They evoke the sense of a world on the cusp of change.