Koppen 1840 - 1880

Johannes Tavenraat rendered this study of heads on paper with pen and brown ink. The choice of materials is significant: pen and ink, though traditional, lend themselves to a quick, informal, and reproducible approach. The artist's hand moves freely, capturing the essence of each face with economical lines. Tavenraat seems less interested in formal portraiture and more in the character of laboring people. The rough paper support emphasizes the sketch-like quality of the work. It is not a highly finished piece, but rather a study, perhaps for a larger composition. Note the numbers in the top left corner, which might be an inventory, or reflect the artist's accounting of time, labor, and money. This work shows the artist's engagement with the social context of his time. The men depicted wear simple hats, indicative of their working-class status. The artist acknowledges the value of labor, and challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and everyday life.