Hoofd van een man, in profiel naar links 1876 - 1924

Editor: Here we have "Head of a Man, in profile to the left," a graphite drawing likely created between 1876 and 1924 by Gerrit Willem Dijsselhof. It's housed here at the Rijksmuseum. It feels like a fleeting thought captured on paper – quick, almost like a study. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: It's interesting you say fleeting, because to me, it’s an attempt at capturing something far more lasting, almost… archetypal. The artist is working quickly, yes, but towards revealing a universal man. Do you see the determined set of the jaw, the intense brow? It speaks of resilience, of enduring through… everything. Editor: I do see the strength in his face now that you point it out, but it's sketched so lightly that it feels almost ephemeral. What about the paper he's drawn on, the ruled lines? Curator: Precisely! Those lines act as a grounding force, anchoring the 'universal man' to the everyday, the mundane. They remind us that even the grandest ideas, the strongest wills, exist within the confines of ordinary life. It almost lends the work a humorous touch, doesn’t it? As if the artist is winking at us, acknowledging the inherent irony of portraying timelessness on a piece of lined paper. Editor: A wink! I didn’t catch that at all. So, it’s not just a quick sketch but a playful commentary on timelessness? Curator: Or the illusion of it, perhaps! It's about embracing the inherent contradictions in human nature – the enduring spirit juxtaposed with our daily lives. Editor: I’m beginning to see the depth now; thank you for illuminating all those subtle points. Curator: And thank you, your initial take allowed us to discover the richness hidden beneath those sketched lines together.