Drijvers 1840 - 1880

Johannes Tavenraat created this pen and ink drawing, now held in the Rijksmuseum, with a striking and economic use of line to depict various head studies. The composition, consisting of multiple faces rendered in profile, conveys an array of expressions and physiognomies within a small space. The brisk, almost frenetic, quality of the line work gives the piece a sense of immediacy. Each face is delineated with swift strokes that capture the essence of character and form. The effect is somewhat reminiscent of caricature. The artist employs hatching and cross-hatching to suggest depth and volume, emphasizing the grotesque and unique features of each subject. Tavenraat here engages with a visual language that both captures and destabilizes notions of individual identity. The drawing prompts us to consider how we construct and perceive character through the visual shorthand of line and form.