Meisjeskopje in profiel naar links 1845

This is a delicate ink drawing of a young girl in profile by Johannes Tavenraat, created around 1845. Tavenraat was working during a period of significant social change, as traditional class structures were increasingly questioned. The girl's simple headscarf and modest attire speak to the socio-economic realities of many young women during this era, where options for self-expression and social mobility were limited by gender and class. The profile view, a classical artistic convention, places the girl within a historical lineage of portraiture, yet her simple clothing suggests a departure from the opulent displays of wealth often seen in such portraits. What does it mean to apply such an elevated style to such an ordinary subject? The drawing invites us to consider the individual dignity and worth of a young woman whose name we may never know, but whose quiet presence lingers on through Tavenraat's sensitive rendering.