Koppen 1840 - 1880

Johannes Tavenraat rendered this study of heads with pen and brown ink. These are not portraits of individuals, but rather, studies of character, types which carry with them centuries of cultural baggage. Notice the bulbous nose on the leftmost figure. This is no mere physical feature, but a loaded signifier, instantly recognizable. Since antiquity, the large nose has been coded to denote certain traits; think of Punch from the Commedia dell'arte, or the grotesque figures in medieval caricatures. The hooked nose, often paired with a pointed chin and cunning eyes, emerges as a symbol laden with negative associations. The image becomes a cultural palimpsest, with each line echoing previous depictions. The recurrence of the large nose through history suggests the presence of powerful, collective memory and cultural association. The artist here taps into the deep waters of subconscious prejudice, reminding us of the cyclical, non-linear nature of symbols.