Man, van achteren gezien, en een meisje 1871 - 1879

This work, "Man, van achteren gezien, en een meisje", was created by Johannes Tavenraat using pen in brown and brush in gray. The composition is stark, split into distinct zones, with the figures rendered through sparse, economic lines. Notice the man viewed from behind: his form reduced to essential contours, emphasizing shape over detail. This minimalist approach mirrors structuralist ideas, highlighting the underlying framework. Then, look at the girl, her presence delineated through gray washes, giving her a spectral quality. Tavenraat uses a semiotic language, where each line and shadow serves as a signifier, prompting viewers to piece together meaning from minimal cues. The rough texture, particularly in the girl’s rendering, unsettles established notions of beauty, engaging with new ways of seeing. The artwork invites ongoing interpretation. The way that form destabilizes established meanings, offering no fixed narrative, is its most striking quality.