Portret van Johannes Benedictus Kan 1896

Jan Veth created this portrait of Johannes Benedictus Kan using graphite. Veth was a man of the fin-de-siècle, that period of immense social change, and he would have been deeply aware of the cultural shifts of the era, especially those concerning gender, class, and intellectual life. This portrait captures Kan, a rector at a prominent institution, at a time when educational leadership was almost exclusively male. Veth's style, rooted in realism, presents Kan with an earnestness. The inscription at the top, with reversed letters, suggests a mirror, perhaps inviting us to reflect on the values and power structures represented by figures like Kan. What does it mean to memorialize a man of such stature? Veth’s choice to depict Kan in such a straightforward manner, emphasizes the sitter’s authority. This portrait invites us to consider the roles men play in shaping intellectual and societal norms.