Mansportret 1840 - 1880

Curator: Standing before us at the Rijksmuseum is an intriguing piece, a work simply called "Mansportret" or "Man's Portrait", believed to be from somewhere between 1840 and 1880 and attributed to Johannes Tavenraat. It is an ink drawing on paper. Editor: There is something about the starkness that really gets me. It feels both fragile and severe; I feel as though this sketch exposes something of the man’s spirit, however unfinished the artwork seems. Curator: Absolutely. The style is often classified as Romantic, particularly given the focus on emotionality, even in the stark profile we observe, however its the societal impressions left by such austere, line-driven pieces that fascinate. The sitter, possibly of some standing if his clothing indicates anything, makes me wonder about art's function as a class marker. Editor: The heavy lines defining his collar seem to weigh him down, and the large, soft shading that backgrounds his profile conjures the feeling that he might fade back into the past. Curator: It’s the shadow self emerging. And I see what you mean with the collar, like he’s constrained. This poses questions about what sort of expectations a man of his status carried. What burdens? Tavenraat is not only capturing a likeness, but maybe even implying something about masculine roles of that time. Editor: It is such an unassuming work that sparks these kinds of powerful contemplations, it stands in stark opposition to a more polished piece from the time. Instead, it pulls back the curtain and invites reflection on how we construct our understanding of identity, through art or otherwise. Curator: The simplicity is definitely deceiving. Looking closer informs us to the complexity of social and cultural forces that shaped the man, the artist and us today viewing this work. Art serves as a prompt and a mirror, always making us confront narratives of both past and present.