Man met een snor 1836 - 1912

Isaac Weissenbruch created this small drawing, "Man met een snor," using pen in the Netherlands during the 19th century. Weissenbruch was part of the Hague School, a group of artists who aimed to represent Dutch life and landscapes with realism. This drawing encapsulates that aim. However, it also signifies more. The sitter’s poised expression and his styled hair, coupled with the confidence implied by his mustache, speaks to the performance of masculinity during the 1800s. Men’s fashion became a means of conveying social status and personal identity. The relatively small size of the portrait suggests it may have been a more personal work, perhaps a study or a memento. Ultimately, the artwork leaves us to ponder the complex relationship between personal identity and societal expectations, and the quiet stories a simple portrait can tell.