Koppen 1840 - 1880

Johannes Tavenraat created this pen drawing titled Koppen, or Heads, sometime in the 19th century. The two heads here, rendered in stark profile, invite us to consider the timeless human fascination with physiognomy—the art of discerning character from facial features. The figure on the left, concealed beneath a heavy cap, evokes the archetype of the secretive wanderer or the wise fool, a figure found in commedia dell'arte. The figure on the right, however, is rendered in a more academic style. Consider the "grotesque" heads of Leonardo da Vinci, in which facial exaggerations became a mirror reflecting hidden truths. Tavenraat captures something of this tradition, a subtle psychological tension that lingers between the faces. This tension transcends time, engaging our subconscious recognition of shared human experience. It’s a visual echo resonating through the ages.