Twee koppen 1840 - 1880

Johannes Tavenraat made this drawing, called 'Two Heads', with pen in gray and brown ink, sometime in the first half of the 19th century. The close study of the head and the exaggerated features point towards the academic tradition of studying physiognomy. This was the pseudo-science of assessing a person’s character or personality from their outer appearance, especially the face. It was very popular at the time this drawing was made, and was taught in the art academies. These academies perpetuated conservative traditions, but physiognomy was also used as a tool by some people to challenge established norms. It was sometimes used in overtly racist ways, but others used it to show how the poor were debased by their social conditions. Studying the history of the human sciences such as phrenology and physiognomy can help us to understand the changing attitudes towards social class in the 19th century.