Twee manskoppen 1819 - 1881

Editor: So this is “Twee manskoppen,” which translates to "Two Male Heads." It’s an ink drawing on paper by Johannes Tavenraat, dating from sometime between 1819 and 1881, currently at the Rijksmuseum. It has this almost scientific, observational feel. What catches your eye about this particular sheet of studies? Curator: Well, first, that slightly chaotic energy – studies clustered together like overheard snippets of conversation, each face a fleeting impression. But it's more than just observation; it’s Tavenraat feeling his way into a subject, scratching and swirling lines until a personality emerges. It's like catching a glimpse of his mind at work, wouldn't you say? Editor: Yes, the incompleteness makes it feel intimate. I also noticed some financial figures sketched on top... Curator: Ah, yes! I’m instantly reminded of a well-worn notebook of mine, filled with sketches of the people on the bus alongside grocery lists. It's like a secret language, only the artist knows. Do you think the studies humanise the economics scribbles? Editor: Absolutely, especially since this was the age of burgeoning capitalism. I see the drawing style marked as “academic art," but would you consider it a portrait or more of a sketch? Curator: It exists between those worlds, doesn’t it? Rooted in observation but reaching toward something more evocative. It's academic in its technique, the artist flexes his observational prowess, while sketching allows for experimentation, capturing inner states rather than precise likenesses. Perhaps an academic rebel? Editor: That's a great way of looking at it, and helps explain the tension I felt in the piece. Thank you. Curator: My pleasure. The privilege lies with the encounter.