Kop van man met hoed 1840 - 1880

Johannes Tavenraat made this quick sketch, "Head of a Man with a Hat," with pen in the Netherlands. This work gives us an insight into the Dutch art world of the 19th century. Tavenraat was working during a time of significant social and political change in the Netherlands. After the Napoleonic period, the country was trying to re-establish its national identity. In this social context, art academies were becoming more formalized and were influencing artistic style and taste. The image is quite informal; it may have been a preliminary study. But despite its apparent spontaneity, we might also ask whether its rugged, romantic imagery aligns itself self-consciously with a certain idea of Dutch identity. To fully appreciate this sketch, one might delve into the archives of Dutch art academies or explore the biographies of lesser-known artists like Tavenraat. In doing so, we can better understand the social and institutional forces that shaped the art of this period.