Kop van een man met een baard c. 1881 - 1888

This is Anton Mauve’s study of a bearded man’s head, currently held at the Rijksmuseum. Mauve painted in a period where artists were actively turning away from academic norms to seek a more truthful representation of ordinary life and the working class. Mauve was a leading figure in the Hague School, which sought to depict the authentic atmosphere of the Dutch landscape and its inhabitants. This sketch may have served as preparation for a larger painting, capturing the dignity and character of an individual often overlooked in society. The loose sketch conveys a sense of intimacy. The unfinished nature of the work invites us to contemplate the lived experience of the man depicted, beyond mere physical appearance. Instead of idealizing the subject, Mauve captures a sense of humanity that reflects broader social concerns. He offers an alternative to traditional portraiture, one that emphasizes empathy and connection.