Hoofd van een kale man 1672 - 1711

Augustinus Terwesten created this print of a bald man’s head sometime in the late 17th or early 18th century. It’s a study of aging, but also of the social status implied by the man’s stoic gaze and slightly averted head. Prints like this one circulated widely in the Netherlands and beyond. They served as models for artists learning to draw and paint the human figure, so the image embodies the way art academies codified social standing. Terwesten himself held a prominent position at the Berlin Academy of Arts, confirming his role in shaping artistic taste and social values. The Netherlands was a major center for printmaking, and prints were often used to disseminate political and social messages. Looking at this image we can ask: What was the role of art in shaping social perceptions in the Netherlands at this time? Researching Terwesten’s career, and the history of the Berlin Academy, will tell us more.