Hoofd van een man met muts, naar rechts 1778 - 1838

Anthonie van den Bos made this head study of a man with a cap, sometime in the late 18th or early 19th century, using pen and ink on paper. The material itself—paper—is key here. Before industrial manufacturing, paper was a precious commodity, made by hand, sheet by sheet. We can see the texture of the paper and the layered hatch marks that the artist uses to describe the form of the sitter’s face. The way van den Bos uses pen and ink is particularly interesting. Notice how the lines vary in thickness and density, creating a sense of depth and volume with an economy of means. There’s a real intimacy in the way the artist has captured the man’s likeness. It reminds us that the simple act of drawing can be a profound form of connection. By focusing on the materials and making of this modest work, we gain a deeper appreciation for the artist's skill and the cultural values embedded in this unassuming piece of paper.