Kop 1840 - 1880

This is Johannes Tavenraat’s pencil drawing, "Kop," created sometime during his career in the 19th century. Tavenraat was working during a period of significant social upheaval in the Netherlands. The Dutch Golden Age had long passed, and the country was grappling with economic and political changes. The sketch presents a profile of an unknown person. The sitter, with their downcast gaze, receding hairline, and stern expression, might evoke a sense of melancholy. The sitter's identity remains a mystery, leaving us to speculate about their life, their struggles, and their place within the broader social fabric of the time. The loose, expressive lines of the sketch suggest a fleeting moment captured on paper. It invites us to reflect on the hidden stories and experiences of ordinary people who lived through times of transition. The notes jotted down at the top of the page add an additional layer of mystery. What was the value of the sitter at that time? What value do we place on them now?