Portret van Anna Dorothea Veth-Dirks 1874 - 1925

Jan Veth rendered this portrait of Anna Dorothea Veth-Dirks in pencil on horizontally lined paper. The linear structure of the support intersects with the subject of the drawing itself. A network of delicate lines outlines the face, forming subtle shadows that define her features. This technique, combined with the pale paper, creates a gentle, almost ethereal, impression. The drawing's composition is traditional; the subject's head and shoulders are centered, drawing the eye directly to her face. However, Veth's choice of materials destabilizes established meanings of portraiture, merging the formal with the informal, suggesting a study rather than a finished portrait. This approach invites us to look beyond the subject's likeness and consider the work's structural components. Ultimately, Veth's portrait is a fascinating study in lines and planes. It challenges our expectations and invites us to continually reinterpret the relationship between form, function, and meaning in art.