Koppen en een hond 1868

Editor: We're looking at "Heads and a Dog" by Johannes Tavenraat, from 1868, a pen and ink drawing currently residing in the Rijksmuseum. It’s a series of character studies, quite comical almost. What do you see in this collection of faces? Curator: What I *see*... ah, that’s always the question, isn’t it? It's a rumination on character, almost theatrical. Tavenraat isn't just showing us what these folks *look* like; he’s capturing a feeling, an essence. Notice how each face seems to be pulled from a different story. It feels like stumbling into a pub filled with players rehearsing for a play, doesn’t it? The quick lines, the exaggerated features... what do you think he's trying to say? Editor: I suppose, perhaps, that there's beauty in the ordinary? Curator: Exactly! The faces might be ‘ordinary,’ even grotesque, but Tavenraat transforms them into something compelling. The ink dances on the page. Do you find the dog to be an usual addition? It could be the symbol of loyalty, no? Editor: Absolutely, perhaps Tavenraat used it to provide a sense of levity. Before looking at this piece I thought portraiture was limited to, well, serious portrayals of rich people, haha. Curator: I think he sought a fresh new visual language, something relatable. These aren't stoic nobles, they are everyman's reflection staring back. A simple genre-painting, really. He makes me question the nature of representation itself, in the most charming way! It feels more… alive, somehow. What will you remember most about this work? Editor: Definitely how lively and engaging the images feel, especially considering it’s just pen and ink!