Portret van Justus Veth 1874 - 1925

Jan Veth rendered this drawing of Justus Veth on paper with graphite, but when is hard to say. Both men were deeply embedded in the cultural institutions of the Netherlands. Jan was not only an artist but also an art critic, while Justus became a professor of art history. The drawing presents a straightforward, unidealized image. Justus wears glasses and a suit and tie - an intellectual, professional presentation. The image seems to speak to the growing professionalization of the art world, and the increasing importance of academic discourse in shaping artistic tastes and values. To truly understand this work, one might delve into archives, letters, and publications that would shed light on the Veth family, but also the academic and artistic circles they inhabited. Art such as this is a product of a specific time and place.