Elf studies van een mannenhoofd 1710 - 1767

Editor: So, this is "Elf studies van een mannenhoofd," or Eleven Studies of a Male Head, by Leonard Schenk, sometime between 1710 and 1767. It's a drawing, ink on paper, currently held at the Rijksmuseum. There's something really captivating about the raw, unfinished nature of these faces; the expressiveness despite being just studies. What do you see in this piece, from your perspective? Curator: You know, what grabs me is the sheer theatricality, wouldn't you agree? Like a casting call for ancient gods or perhaps a particularly grumpy history play. Each face seems caught in its own dramatic monologue. Notice the attention to the furrowed brows, the determined set of the jaw, the varying degrees of seriousness…it’s like Schenk was sketching out the inner lives, or at least the public personas, of these historical figures. Did he have a specific narrative in mind, I wonder? Maybe a lost epic! Or just prepping for his History Painting 101 class. Editor: That's a fun way to look at it! I didn’t really see them as characters before. You mentioned History Painting, and I was going to ask: besides simple practice, were these head studies a typical exercise at the time? Curator: Absolutely, this was standard academic fare. Before tackling grand canvases, artists needed to master anatomy and expression. Think of it as scales for a musician – necessary, but hopefully imbued with its own artistry. Look at the controlled chaos of the lines— especially the hair. It shows great confidence in draftsmanship, don't you think? Editor: It's much more lively now that I consider the range of personalities being portrayed. It's like seeing them all warming up backstage. Curator: Precisely! Next time you're feeling theatrical, come back to these guys and see which one best represents your inner drama! I wonder, do you feel any more of an affinity for drawing now that you've been face to face, virtually speaking, with the work? Editor: For sure! The sketchiness now feels intentional, more about capturing a fleeting thought. Thanks, that gave me a lot to think about.